Martin S. Neff

A Comparison of Androgens for Anemia in Patients on Hemodialysis

To compare the erythropoietic effects of nandrolone decanoate, testosterone enanthate, oxymetholone, and fluoxymesterone, we performed a randomized clinical trial in patients with anemia who were receiving maintenance hemodialysis (the women were not given testosterone enanthate). After a control period of at least two months, patients received one of the drugs for six months and then returned to control status; a second and third drug were administered in a similar fashion. Seventy-seven patients completed the first drug period, 56 the second, and 35 the third. The response to nandrolone and testosterone enanthate, the two drugs given by injection, was clearly superior to the response to oxymetholone or fluoxymesterone, given by mouth, in terms of the percentage of patients responding and the mean rise in hematocrit. Approximately half the patients had an increase of at least 5 percentage points in hematocrit after an injectable androgen was given; more than half the women responded. Patients who required transfusions regularly and those who had bilateral nephrectomies did not respond.

Patients surviving 10 years of hemodialysis

Experience with 37 patients surviving 10 years of hemodialysis therapy was reviewed. These patients were compared with 103 patients who began hemodialysis between 1967 and 1971 and who subsequently died. Males had an excess risk of death. Patients with polycystic kidneys survived longer. There was more uncontrolled hypertension among a control group than in 10-year survivors. In survivors, the hematocrit level increased over time and averaged 30.4 percent at 10 years. Over 10 years, many complications arose including parathyroidectomy (24), pericarditis (13), gastrointestinal bleeding (11), myocardial infarction (10), septicemia (eight), and active tuberculosis (six). Despite complications, most patients are now stable. Between their eighth and 10th years they required an average of only one hospitalization with a mean stay of 9.7 days. Eighteen patients were not hospitalized. Excluding housewives, 67 percent of patients between ages 20 and 59 years are employed full-time and 10 percent part-time. Patients surviving 10 years are not progressively deteriorating and may look to the future with cautious optimism.

The Role of Thrombolysis in Hemodialysis Access Occlusion

Thirty-eight occluded hemodialysis accesses were infused with urokinase on 43 occasions. In 49% of the cases, the access patency was reestablished for a week or longer, although 38% of this subset subsequently rethrombosed. Postthrombolysis angiography detected a stenotic segment in 14 of 22 angiograms (64%). Local bleeding was common, but the thrombolytic therapy was generally well tolerated. Percutaneous thrombolysis in conjunction with angiography and access revision provides a clinically useful means of access preservation.

Intestinal Mucormycosis in Hemodialysis Patients Following Deferoxamine

Two maintenance hemodialysis patients receiving deferoxamine to chelate iron and aluminum developed intestinal mucormycosis. One patient had pulmonary mucormycosis as well. The patients lacked the usual predisposing factors to mucormycosis, ie, diabetes and acidosis, but both had liver disease. The role of siderophores such as deferoxamine in promoting certain infections is discussed with reference to this particular clinical setting.

Angiographic Visualization for Percutaneous Renal Biopsy

Fifteen patients underwent visualization of the kidney for percutaneous biopsy by selective renal angiography. Biopsies were performed in 11 patients, and adequate renal tissue was obtained in all instances. Postbiopsy angiogram revealed pinpoint bleeding in ten patients and significant extravasation in one case, which was controlled with a selective epinephrine infusion. In four cases, biopsy was not performed when the cortex was found to be less than 5 mm thick.

Hemodynamics of Uremic Anemia The author replies

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