The effect of i.v. iron alone or in combination with low- dose erythropoietin in the rapid correction of anemia of chronic renal failure in the predialysis period.

This is a most valuable study concerning the use of rHuEPO and iron sucrose in predialysis patients. While it is quite predictable that rHuEPO and iron patients show a faster increase in Hct, the question of why some patients need further rHuEPO in the maintenance phase and others do not is of great interest. What is the difference between them? May problems with endogenous EPO be linked to inflammatory cytokines?

– C. Breymann.