Thrombin-antithrombin III complex concentrations (TAT-III) were measured in 18 anaemic haemodialysis patients treated with erythropoietin (Epo) and in four haemodialysis patients treated with i.v. iron dextran.There was a significant early increase in thrombinantithrombin III in erythropoietin-treated patients which appeared to be independent of the response to erythropoietin (Epo responders (n=14), pretreatment TAT-III median (range) 3.10 (2.70–9.10)μg/1; maximum TAT-III 19.48 (11.18–60.00)μg/1,/<0.001, Wilcoxon; Epo non-responders (n=4), pretreatment TAT-III 3.15 (2.90–4.50)μg/1, maximum TAT-III 16.00 (10.31–36.12)μg/1,/P<0.001). This was not seen in iron-dextran-treated patients (Pretreatment TAT-III 2.05 (1.90–9.48)μg/1, maximum TAT-III 5.60 (2.10–14.50) ug/1). The change was not related to haemoglobin, erythropoietin dose, or method of administration, and was transient in nature, thrombin- antithrombin III returning to pretreatment values after approximately 6 months in all patients (Epo responders 6.0(4.0–9.0) months, TAT-III 2.47 (1.30–9.23)μg/1; Epo non-responders 7.0 months, TAT-III 5.04 (2.10–7.00)μug/1).Increased thrombin-antithrombin III complex may reflect an effect of erythropoietin on microcirculatory factors, which could be relevant to the occurrence of advers
展开▼
