ABSTRACT
Digital vascular reactivity was determined in 12 normotensive patients on chronic hemodialysis without a history of Raynaud's phenomenon before and after partial correction of anaemia with human recombinant erythropoietin (rHuEPO): apparent finger systolic pressures and finger skin temperatures were recorded at rest, after local cooling, and following 5 minutes rewarming time. Finger systolic pressures remained constant during the whole test, pre and post rHuEPO therapy. The decrease in finger skin temperatures after cold provocation as well as the rewarming behaviour after cooling were normal in both examinations. The present data indicate that treatment with EPO does not interfere with digital arterial reactivity in normotensive patients on haemodialysis.
