IMPROVEMENT IN THE ERYTHROPOIESIS OF CHRONIC HAEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS WITH DESFERRIOXAMINE

Abstract 16 chronic haemodialysis patients (group I), with non-microcytic anaemia (mean haemoglobin 7·2 g/dl, SD 1·0, range 5·8-9·8), moderate aluminium overload (serum aluminium 44 μg/l, SD 16, range 21-74), and normal or high iron stores (ferritin 800 μg/l SD 464, range 34-2013) were treated with intravenous desferrioxamine 1 g at the end of each dialysis for six months. 8 patients with similar characteristics served as controls (group II). After six months group I showed a rise in haemoglobin to 9·1 (SD 2·5) g/dl and a decrease in blood transfusion requirements, both significant, whereas group II showed no changes. Other significant changes observed in group I, but not group II, were a rise in reticulocytes and in red cell creatine and a fall in red cell protoporphyrin and serum ferritin. Ferritin decreased more in the patients whose anaemia improved. Minor increases in serum aluminium in group I did not differ from those in the control group. Desferrioxamine may benefit the anaemia of chronic haemodialysis patients through improvement of erythropoiesis. The effect seems not to be related to chelation of a heavy aluminium overload.