Chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients often suffer from anemia, for which they must be treated with erythropoietin. This study treated 20 CKD patients with erythropoietin and intravenous high dose (500mg) vitamin C after every dialysis, and compared them to a control group (erythropoietin + intravenous iron). The group treated with vitamin C showed a significant increase in hemoglobin and a significant decrease in erythropoietin resistance index.
Evaluation of Effect of Ascorbic Acid on Ferritin and Erythropoietin Resistance in Patients of Chronic Kidney Disease.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE:
This study was planned to evaluate the effect of short term intravenous ascorbic acid on reducing ferritin and erythropoietin resistance in patients of chronic kidney disease (CKD) on maintenance haemodialysis (MHD).
METHODS:
Forty adult patients [20 patients in group A with increased serum ferritin level (>500 ng/ml), transferrin saturation (TSAT) ≤20% and 20 patients in group B with normal serum ferritin level (<200 ng/ml), TSAT ≤20%] of end stage renal disease (ESRD) with erythropoietin hyporesponsiveness undergoing maintenance hemodialysis were included in the study. Group A was given intravenous (i.v.) ascorbic acid in a dose of 500 mg once a week after each 4 hours session of dialysis for 3 weeks in a month (total 1500 mg/month), for a period of 3 months along with erythropoietin 6000 IU subcutaneous (S/C) twice weekly without iron therapy. Group B was given erythropoietin (6000 IU S/C twice weekly after each hemodialysis) and intravenous (IV) iron 100 mg/week for 3 months. Hematological and renal investigations, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), high sensitivity C-reactive protein (HsCRP), serum ferritin and TSAT were done at baseline and then one monthly intervals for three months whereas intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) was measured at the start and end of the study.
RESULTS:
At the end of 3 months of study, in group A, Hemoglobin (Hb) and TSAT significantly increased while ferritin, HsCRP anderythropoietin resistance index (ERI) decreased significantly. In group B, the increase in Hb and TSAT were not significant statistically while ferritin increased significantly and fall in HsCRP and ERI were not significant statistically. The mean rise in Hb between subsequent months was higher in group A as compared to group B.
CONCLUSIONS:
Short term i.v ascorbic acid could be a new successful adjuvant in reducing ferritin and erythropoietin resistance and enhancing Hb and TSAT in CKD patients on MHD.
- PMID: 28792166