Effect of recombinant human erythropoietin on platelets in patients with anemia of renal failure: correlation of platelet count with erythropoietic activity and iron parameters

Abstract

We examined the effect of treatment with rHuEpo on platelet counts in 61 hemodialysis patients and correlated them with changes in erythropoietic activity, iron status and inflammation. Platelets (10⁹/l) increased from 220 ±80 to 245 ±102 after 14 days and stabilized at that level up to day 90 (p<0.0001). The increment was similar in complete or partial responders but was not observed in failures. Serum transferrin receptor (sTfR, a measure of total erythropoiesis) and Hct rose much more progressively, but relative platelet increments correlated with relative increases in sTfR and Hct. Relative platelet increments correlated inversely with relative changes of SeFe or transferrin saturation, but not with their absolute values, nor with baseline ferritin or its progressive decrease. Although baseline platelet count was 12% higher in patients with inflammation and correlated with serum haptoglobin, relative increases were similar in patients with or without inflammation. In conclusion, rHuEpo produced a clinically minor but consistent elevation of platelet counts. These modifications were not related primarily to modifications in iron stores, functional iron deficiency, or inflammation, but paralleled the expansion of erythropoietic activity. The results suggest that rHuEpo has a small positive effect on platelet production, but it cannot be ruled out that this could be partially mediated through functional iron deficiency.