Valentini RP, Sedman AB, Smoyer WE, Kershaw D, Gregory M, Bunchman TE
The safety and efficacy of intraperitoneal erythropoietin in children on CCPD
Am Soc Nephrol
J Am Soc Nephrol (abstract) (Nov) 6:514 1995

Intraperitoneal EPO has been impractical in CAPD patients due to the extremely high doses and hence expense associated with this route. A "dry" daytime peritoneum, however, appears to improve bioavailability. The authors of this study followed 5 children (13.8+/-1.6 yo) for a mean 17 weeks. All were treated with a 4 hour "dry" IP EPO dwell and followed by one daytime 6 hour dwell before finally draining in preparation for CCPD. 4 children received 300 U/kg IP once a week and one received 615 U/kg IP in divided doses twice a week. In the end, the mean dose of IP EPO on a weekly basis was 310 U/kg vs. former dosing SC of 262 U/kg/wk. No increase in peritonitis was detected. Most notable was an unexplained rise in PTH levels from 537 to 758 detected while children were on IP EPO. While cost and complication issues continue to be of concern, the authors suggest a subset of non-compliant or injection-shy patients may be served by the alternative IP route.

Additional comments by Steven Fishbane: This small study looked at IP dosing of EPO in children on CCPD. Other studies of IP dosing have shown poor EPO bioavailability with CAPD; in CCPD the long daytime dwell could allow for increased EPO absorption. EPO was administered during a 10 hour (first 4 hours dry) daytime period. The primary findings were stable or improving hematocrits on IP EPO. Doses of EPO rose by 18% with IP dosing, but the increase was not statistically significant. Comment: IP dosing of EPO would have the obvious advantage of avoiding sub-q injections. This study is provocative, but is too small to reach meaningful conclusions. If EPO doses remain relatively stable with IP dosing in CCPD, and if the peritonitis incidence does not increase, then this would be a valuable tool. (Narsipur)

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Am Soc Nephrol
CRF by problem area : Anemia/Erythropoietin/Iron
CRF by problem area : CRF in infants and children