Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Hypertension in a pregnancy with renal anemia after recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) therapy

Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract 

Management of renal anemia in pregnancy remains a major issue. We report the use of human recombinant erythropoietin (rhEPO) combined with parenteral iron sucrose in a pregnancy with chronic glomerulonephritis, progressive anemia and initially normal blood pressure. Therapy from 32 weeks gestation increased the hematocrit by 0.4% daily and the hemoglobin from 8.6 to 10.3 g/dL within 2 weeks. Despite the improvement of anemia, Cesarean section had to be performed at 34 weeks due to acute hypertension, preeclampsia and worsening renal function. Blood pressure remained elevated postpartum. Because of symptomatic postpartum anemia with a hemoglobine of 7.5 g/dL on the 5th postoperative day rhEPO in combination with parenteral iron sucrose was readministered over 3 following days. Blood pressure reached a maximum of 210/130 mm Hg 3 weeks later. Possible causes include avancing preeclampsia and renal disease, but also rhEPO (due to its intrinsic vascular effects and/or the rapid response of the hematocrit), and a combination of both.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Received: 13 July 2001 / Accepted: 13 July 2001

Correspondence to M. Kashiwagi

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kashiwagi, M., Breymann, C., Huch, R. et al. Hypertension in a pregnancy with renal anemia after recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) therapy. Arch Gynecol Obstet 267, 54–56 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/s004040100234

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s004040100234

Navigation