Does erythropoietin therapy affect circulating endothelial cells in hemodialysis patients?

Anemia is a common complication of chronic kidney disease (CKD). The most common cause of anemia in CKD is erythropoietin deficiency; and the most important cause of mortality in CKD patients is atherosclerotic vascular complications which are associated with endothelial damage. One of the methods evaluating vascular integrity is the cytometric measurement of circulating endothelial cells and endothelial progenitor cells in peripheral blood. The study aimed to investigate the effects of erythropoietin therapy on endothelial dysfunction by evaluating circulating endothelial cells and endothelial progenitor cells in peripheral blood using the technique of flow cytometry. Methods. A total of 55 hemodialysis patients were evaluated in three groups; those having erythropoietin therapy for at least last 3 months (n = 20) / not having erythropoietin for at least the last 3 months (n = 20) and the patients who started erythropoietin treatment during the study (n = 5). The control group consisted of 20 people. Blood values of the 3rd Group were investigated three times as baseline, 2nd week and 8th week CD34 +, CD105 + cells were evaluated as activated circulating endothelial cells; CD133 +, CD146 + cells were evaluated as activated endothelial progenitor cells. Results. There was no difference between the patients and healthy individuals in terms of circulating endothelial cells and endothelial progenitor cells. In the third group, no differences were observed in circulating endothelial cells / endothelial progenitor cell levels at baseline / 2nd and 8th weeks. There was no correlation between erythropoietin and circulating endothelial cells / endothelial progenitor cells. Conclusion. A correlation is not available between the therapeutic doses of erythropoietin used in hemodialysis patients and circulating endothelial cells / endothelial progenitor cell levels; supratherapeutic doses could change the results.