Increase of the Bioavailabllity of Intraperitoneal Erythropoietin in Children on Peritoneal Dialysis by Administration in Small Dialysis Bags

Abstract

Objective

To establish the effectivity of administration of erythropoietin intraperitoneally in a small amount of fluid in children with renal anemia on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD).

Design

Prospective study in which children with renal anemia on CAPD were treated with erythropoietin intraperitoneally, administered in a specially designed bag containing 50 mL NaCl 0.9%.

Setting

University hospital.

Patients

The patient population consisted of 9 children treated with CAPD and 1 treated with nightly intermittent peritoneal dialysis. The median age was 7.8 years (range 4.1 -15.2). Four of these children had not been treated with erythropoietin before (group A), and 6 had been treated with erythropoietin administered intraperitoneally in 250 mL of dialysis fluid (group B).

Interventions

Patients in group A started on a dose of approximately 300 units/kg per week (group A). Patients in group B received their previous dose. Do sage was adjusted to achieve a target hemoglobin level of 6.5 7.0 mmol/L (104 -112 g/L). Serum ferritin levels and transferrin saturation were monitored and iron supplementation was prescribed in the case of iron deficiency.

Main outcome measures

Weekly erythropoietin dose in relation to hemoglobin level.

Results

In group A, median hemoglobin level rose from 5.3 mmol/L (85 g/L) to 6.6 mmol/L (106 g/L) after 6 months of therapy, whereas the median erythropoietin dose decreased from 266 to 234 U/kg/week. In group B, hemoglobin levels remained stable and median erythropoietin dose decreased from 262 to 194 U/kg/week. One patient in this group, for unknown reasons, never responded to erythropoietin treatment. He was excluded from further analysis. In the remaining 5 patients the median cumulative erythropoietin dose was 3250 U/kg in the 3-month period prior to the start of the study and 2713 in the 3-month period starting 6 months after the beginning of the study. This difference of 17% was statistically significant using a Wilcoxon test (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Intraperitoneal administration of erythropoietin in a small amount of dialysis fluid leads to a decrease in the required dose.