Recombinant human erythropoietin for chronic renal failure anaemia in pre-dialysis patients.

Treatment with recombinant human erythropoietin (rHu EPO) in dialysis patients has been shown to be highly effective in terms of correcting anaemia and improving quality of life. There is debate concerning the benefits of rHu EPO use in pre-dialysis patients. There is a concern that rHu EPO may accelerate the deterioration in renal function, however the opposing view is that if rHu EPO is as effective in pre-dialysis patients that by improving the patients sense of well-being the onset of dialysis could be delayed.