ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The effect of subclinical thyroid pathologies on erythropoietin (EPO) treatment has not been well defined. The aim of the study is to compare the frequency and dose of EPO administration in patients with subclinical thyroid pathology and euthyroid hemodialysis patients. METHODS: A cross-sectional and retrospective study was conducted with 210 patients. Special conditions were excluded, a total of 191 patients were included. Patients were divided into three groups. RESULTS: The incidences of subclinical hypothyroidism, subclinical hyperthyroidism and euthyroidism were 10.5%, 3.1%, and 86.4%, respectively. Statistically significant difference was found between subclinical hypothyroid and euthyroid patients in terms of the number of patients using EPO (p = 0.0207), monthly total EPO doses (p = 0.003), and total monthly EPO doses per weight (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: The EPO dose required to achieve similar hemoglobin levels in hemodialysis patients was significantly higher in subclinical hypothyroid patients than in euthyroid patients.
