DOES INCREASING BLOOD FLOW IN HEMODIALYSIS LESSEN ERYTHROPOIETIN REQUIREMENT?

Inadequate hemodialysis in chronic hemodialysis patients is an independent risk factor that increases mortality and morbidity. One of the factors effecting solute clearance in hemodialysis is blood flow rate. Parameters at initial and 3 month after were compared in 18 chronic hemodialysis patients who were previously treated with low blood flow rate for various reasons and thereafter in whom blood flow rate was increased up to minimum 300 ml/min following removal of the problems related to vascular access and encouragement of the patients and nurses. After 3 months, it is our observation that the less erythropoietin (EPO) is the more hemoglobine. Whereas 10.18±1.02 g/dl of hemoglobin in average was obtained with 6888±3708 U of EPO intake a week in low blood flow rate period , 12.05±0.80 g/dl of hemoglobine was reached after giving 3055±3244 U of EPO as blood flow rate was more than 300 ml/min (p<0.001). With this high blood flow rate, the patients had increased apetite, albumine rised from 3.19±0.29 g/dl to 3.51 ±0.35 g/dl and Urea Reduction Rate (URR) from 53.39%±7.34 to 64.11%±9.62 (p<0.001). Searching a port entry for a minimum 300 ml/min of blood flow rate leading effective dialysis and thereby patient satisfaction is essential.