Nine patients with anemia of chronic renal failure were treated with recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) in dose 50-150 IU/kg/week. After 8 weeks the treatment was maintained with 30-50 IU/kg/week for one year. A significant increase of hemoglobin (Hb) level and red blood cell (RBC) count was observed in all patients. Administration of rHUEPO maintained Hb level higher than 100 milligrams and RBC count above 3.0 x 10(12)/l. Iron stores decreased in all patients. Parameters reflecting either the real amount of iron available for erythropoiesis or iron stores in erythroid precursors, i.e. red cell ferritin (eF), free erythrocyte protoporphyrin (FEP) and transferrin saturation (satTRF) were the most reliable tools for diagnosis of iron deficient erythropoiesis. Serum ferritin (sF) was not decreased in most patients, however, sF level was below 50 micrograms/l in all patients at the time of diagnosis of iron deficiency. Iron supplementation in a daily dose allowing absorption of 100mg of elementary iron was sufficient to cover the increased demand for iron in rHuEPO treated patients.

Keywords: Anemia /etiology/; Erythropoietin /therapeutic use/; Humans; Iron /metabolism/; Kidney Failure, Chronic /metabolism/; Recombinant Proteins /therapeutic use/