[Status epilepticus in chronically dialyzed patients treated with erythropoietin].

Abstract

This paper describes the clinical features of two patients with chronic renal failure and uremic anaemia treated with recombinant human erythropoietin (9000 I.U. subcutaneously subdivided in 3 times weekly at the end of haemodialysis treatment) who developed seizures and status epilepticus. This treatment has unequivocal benefits but in some patients has been accompanied by elevated blood pressure leading to hypertensive encephalopathy with seizures. In fact, the correction of the anaemia results in a rise in packed cell volume with a consequent increase in blood viscosity, predisposing to increased vascular resistance and the development of hypertension.