Preventive effects of recombinant human erythropoietin administration on anemia associated with repeated hemodialysis in nephrectomized dogs.

The preventive effects of recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) administration on progression of anemia were evaluated during hemodialysis in nephrectomized dogs. In control dogs given no rhEPO, anemia gradually progressed with repeated hemodialysis and with little erythropoietic response observed in the bone marrow. In dogs administered with rhEPO, however, an active erythropoietic response was induced in the bone marrow, indicating that anemia due to hemodialysis was being prevented.