Vitamin E / Anemia In Hemodialysis Patients

Vitamin E-Coated Dialysis Filters Help Fight Anemia In Hemodialysis
Patients
Main Category: Urology / Nephrology News
Article Date: 20 Nov 2006 - 0:00am (PST)

For patients on hemodialysis, the use of dialysis filters coated with
vitamin E may provide a simple new approach to the common problem of
anemia, reports a paper presented at the American Society of
Nephrology's 39th Annual Meeting and Scientific Exposition in San
Diego.

Dr. Dinna Cruz and colleagues of San Bartolo Hospital in Vicenza,
Italy, analyzed the outcomes of 172 patients in Italian dialysis
centers who were switched from "regular" dialysis filters to new
filters coated with vitamin E. "Vitamin E has long been known for its
antioxidant properties, but oral vitamin E has not been helpful in
treating dialysis-related anemia, or low red blood cell count," Dr.
Cruz explains. "We hoped that these newly invented vitamin E-containing
dialysis filters would have some antioxidant properties-scavenging free
radicals that may cause damage to cells in the body, including red
blood cells."

The patients' red blood cell counts levels increased significantly
after the switch to vitamin E-coated filters and remained increased
throughout the one-year study. By the end of the year, the percentage
of hemodialysis patients who were at target red blood cell counts-that
is, without anemia-had increased from about 50 to 80 percent.

The patients also had a significant reduction in their required dose of
the hormone erythropoietin (EPO). Normally produced by the kidneys, EPO
fights anemia by inducing the bone marrow to make red blood cells and
prolonging the life span of existing red blood cells. By the end of the
study year, the average dose of synthetic EPO had decreased by about 23
percent, especially important considering the high cost of EPO
treatment.

Anemia is one of the most frequent complications of hemodialysis and is
a common cause of death in dialysis-dependent patients. "Many factors
contribute to this anemia, including low levels of EPO, iron and
vitamin deficiency, 'underdialysis,' and inflammation and oxidant
stress," says Dr. Cruz. The use of synthetic EPO, along with
intravenous iron, has been a major advance in the treatment of
hemodialysis-related anemia, yet low blood counts continue to be a
problem for many dialysis patients.

"We were gratified to see that the use of newer vitamin E-coated
filters, which were designed to reduce oxidative stress, had visible
clinical benefits," Dr. Cruz concludes. "Our patients' red blood cell
counts improved within the first six months, and they needed much lower
doses of synthetic EPO." With further research, vitamin E-coated
filters could become a simple and practical way of reducing a common
and important complication of hemodialysis.

The study abstract, "Effect of Vitamine E Coated Filter on Anemia in HD
Patients" (SA-PO026) will be presented as part of a Poster Presentation
on the topic of "Anemia in Dialysis" on Saturday, November 18 from
10:00 am-Noon in Halls A/B/C of the San Diego Convention Center.

The ASN is a not-for-profit organization of 9,500 physicians and
scientists dedicated to the study of nephrology and committed to
providing a forum for the promulgation of information regarding the
latest research and clinical findings on kidney diseases. ASN's Renal
Week 2006, the largest nephrology meeting of its kind, will provide a
forum for 10,000 nephrologists, to discuss the latest findings in renal
research and engage in educational sessions relating advances in the
care of patients with kidney and related disorders from November 14-19
at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, CA.

American Society of Nephrology (ASN)
1725 I St., NW, Ste 510
Washington, DC 20006
United States
http://www.asn-online.org/


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