Plasma lipid disturbances are common among patients on maintenance haemodialysis and it seems to be important to evalate lipid status on r-Epo since this treatment of anemia is becoming substantial and so often used in that population. It appears more valuable because there are controversial data in the literature concerning this problem. The aim of the present study was to measure changes in serum lipid concentration in two comparable groups: I--11 patients (7f, 4m) aged 47 +/- 8 years receiving r-Epo s.c. during at least 6 months before HD and 2 years of HD with initial dose 3 x 50 u/kg b.w. and II--18 patients (7f, 11m) aged 45 +/- 8 years without r-Epo in that period of time. Following parameters were estimated every two months: total cholesterol (CH-C), HDL cholesterol (HDL-CH), LDL cholesterol (LDL-CH), triglycerides (TG), apolipoprotein B (Apo B).
Conclusions: 1. Subcutaneous therapy with r-Epo is an effective method of treatment of anemia in dialysis patients. 2. Long-term r-Epo treatment does not permanently influence the blood lipid profile in hemodialysed patients.