The influence of recombinant human erythropoietin (r-HuEPO) on erythrocyte vitamins Bi, B2 and B6 was investigated in regular dialysis treatment (RDT) patients during a long-term 9-month study. Twenty-six RDT patients were divided into two groups. Group A was without r-HuEPO treatment while group B was treated by subcutaneous injection of r-HuEPO. The total maintenance weekly dose of r-HuEPO was 50-100 U/kg. Group A of patients was supplemented with oral pyridoxine 5 mg/day during the period of 9 months; group B was supplemented with oral pyridoxine 5 mg/day for the first 6 months and with 20 mg/day during the following 3 months. At the end of the study, significant increase in erythrocyte vitamin B2 and significant decrease in erythrocyte vitamin B6 were found. Supplementation with 20 mg/day of pyridoxine led to a significant increase in vitamin B6 and at the end of the 9 months, the values of vitamin B6 were within the normal range. These results provide indirect evidence that erythrocyte vitamin B6 is consumed by the hemoglobin synthesis during r-HuEPO treatment in RDT patients.
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