Erythropoietin

Renal anaemia, autologous blood transfusions before elective surgery, severe anaemia.

Notice. Erythropoietin should be used with caution in patients with high blood pressure, ischemic vascular diseases and known epilepsy!

• Renal anaemia: 50 IU/kg bw 3 times/week, possibly increased by 25 IU/kg bw 3 times/week until a haematocrit of 30-35% is reached. Maximum dose 600 IU/kg bw/week.
• Other indications: 150 IU/kg bw s.c. 3 times/week. Dose adjustment 4 weeks after the start of therapy:
• Hb > 1 g/100 ml or reticulocytes > 40.000/μl: maintenance of the dose.
• Hb < 1 g/100 ml or reticulocytes < 40.000/μl: dose increase to 3 times 300 IU/kg bw/week, after 4 weeks renewed control. In the absence of an increase in Hb to > 1 g/100 ml or reticulocytes to > 40,000/μl therapy discontinuation, since therapy response is unlikely.

Notice! In oncological patients the increase in Hb should not exceed 2 g/100 ml/month or Hb values > 14 g/100 ml should be avoided!

Notice! Patients undergoing platinum-containing chemotherapy have a significantly increased risk of high blood pressure. Patients who participate in an autologous blood donation program should undergo volume replacement to reduce the risk of thromboembolic and vascular disease!

Hypertension, occlusion of arterio-venous shunts, allergic reactions, epileptic seizures, flu-like symptoms, dizziness, headache, pruritus, hypertensive encephalopathy, myocardial infarction.