Losartan decreases hemoglobin in renal transplant recipients

A significant decrease in hematocrit has been observed with the use of ACE inhibitors in renal transplant patients. Mechanisms whereby ACR inhibitors decrease the hematocrit in renal transplant patients are unknown even when several studies have focused on interactions between erythropoietin production and the renin-angiotensin system. Recently, the development of specific, selective, AT1, orally active receptor antagonists offered the advantages of increased selectivity, specificity, and maintained blockade of the circulating and tissue renin-angiotensin system at the AT1 receptor level without the adverse reactions associated with ACE inhibitors. The study reported here was performed to retrospectively determine the influence of losartan on hematocrit in renal transplant recipients.