Presidential Address: PDF OnlyEffect of Erythropoietin Administration on Blood and Plasma Viscosity in Hemodialysis PatientsVAZIRI, N. D.; RITCHIE, C.; BROWN, P.; KAUPKE, J.; ATKINS, K.; BARKER, S.; HYATT, J. Author Information From the Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California. ASAIO Transactions: July 1989 - Volume 35 - Issue 3 - p 505-507 Free Abstract The effect of recombinant human erythropoietin (EPO) on whole blood and plasma viscosity was studied in six anemic hemodialysis (HD) patients, and five equally anemic placebo treated HD patients. Viscosity was determined pre-and postdialysis using cone-plate viscometry. Predialysis values for hematocrit and whole blood viscosity increased significantly over a 12 week period in the EPO but not the placebo treated group; plasma viscosity did not change in either group. Whole blood viscosity measured before and after a single HD session during week 12 revealed a significant rise. This change, expressed as a percent of the pre-dialysis values, was similar in the two groups. Thus, the rise in whole blood viscosity seen in EPO treated patients is a result of the increase in erythrocyte concentration and not a result of an effect of EPO on plasma. In addition, EPO does not seem to alter the acute effect of HD on blood viscosity. ©1989 American Society of Artificial Internal Organs
