Mohanad Yasir Al-Radeef^1,, Sajida Hussein Ismail², Ali Abdul-Majid Dyab Allawi³

Anemia is a common complication associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD). It develops early in the course of the disease increasing its frequency with the reduction in renal function. Methoxy polyethylene glycol-epoetin beta (MPGE-β) is a chemically synthesized recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) with a much longer half-life than endogenous erythropoietin (EPO). This study aimed to determine the influence of rHuEPO therapy on serum EPO levels in anemic CKD patients on maintenance hemodialysis. Seventy patients with CKD on maintenance hemodialysis receiving MPGE-β and twenty healthy subjects without medical illnesses were enrolled in this case-control prospective study. Patients had significantly lower serum EPO levels as compared to control healthy group because of relative EPO deficiency in renal anemic patients. Moreover, a significant rHuEPO dose adjustment was done during the first three months which results in a significant elevation in serum EPO levels in patients during the study. Relative EPO deficiency is common in CKD patients and the administration of rHuEPO usually leads to a significant elevation in serum EPO levels in these patients.

chronic kidney disease, serum erythropoietin, anemia, rHuEPO