Management of rHuEPO resistance in CRF patients: a clinical protocol at Winthrop-University Hospital

An inadequate response to recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) therapy may be attributable to many underlying causes, with the major cause being iron deficiency. Since improved rHuEPO response can improve quality of life in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients, rHuEPO resistance should be investigated and corrected whenever possible. This article will discuss the Winthrop-University Hospital's continuous quality improvement (CQI) initiative that was developed to improve recognition and treatment of rHuEPO resistance.