Aim: To evaluate the correlation between the inflammatory blood parameters and the resistance to EPO among the hemodialysis patients.
Introduction: Erythropoietin therapy is considered to be the standard treatment of anemia in chronic kidney disease patients, yet some patients do not respond well to this therapy. This is called EPO resistance and could be generally associated with the chronic inflammation.
Methods: A retrospective one single centre study, which analysed medical records of 30 HD patients who had advanced CKD and received EPO treatment in Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Clinics from 2016–2009 to 2016–2011. Data analysed – concentrations of C-reactive protein, neutrophils, lymphocytes, platelets, as well as EPO dose per kilo and hemoglobin concentration (measured at the beginning of the EPO therapy and one month after the treatment).
Results: Patients were grouped into 2 categories: 1 group (n=14) – concentration of hemoglobin increased, 2 group (n=16) – concentration decreased after treatment. In 1 group average concentration of platelets were statistically significantly (p=0.039) higher (230.2±73.70), compared to 2 group (174.1±66.96).
Furthermore, platelets concentration among patients with hemoglobin level of >100g/l (n=17) after one month of treatment were statistically significantly (p=0.012) higher (231.06±56.41) compared to those patients with hemoglobin level of <100g/l (n=13) (160.08±78.17) after treatment.
Additionally, patients with hemoglobin levels after one month of treatment 100–125g/l (n=15) were separated into two groups based on C-reactive protein level: >5 (1 group) and <5 (2 group). Average concentration of erythropoietin was statistically significantly higher in 1 group (n=9) (223.82±69.15VV/kg) than in 2 group (n=6) (116.68±59.68VV/kg).
Correlation analysis revealed that among patients with hemoglobin levels of <110g/l after treatment there is a statistically significant positive correlation (+0.428) between change of hemoglobin levels before and after treatment and erythropoietin dose and statistically significant (p=0.023) negative correlation (−0.481) with lymphocytes concentration in blood.
Conclusion: HD patients with a higher concentration of platelets respond to EPO therapy better than those with a lower concentration. Increased EPO dose results in higher Hgb concentration, but the inflammatory environment could also lead to EPO resistance. Higher lymphocyte concentration in the blood results in lower Hgb concentration change during treatment. In order to achieve required Hgb change, the increase of CRP above the normal range may result in double the dose of EPO needed.