Is beta-carotene an antioxidant?

The clinical efficacy of s.c. erythropoietin (EPO) injected subcutaneously once weekly was compared in patients (median age of 63 years) on peritoneal dialysis (PD, n = 19) and in haemodialysis (HD, n = 13). The blood haemoglobin prior to start of EPO was not significantly different between the groups. The mean (+/- SD) dose of EPO given to achieve a blood haemoglobin level of 100 g/l was not significantly different between the PD and the HD-responders (85 +/- 45 units/kg body weight and week, versus 112 +/- 33, respectively). Significantly more patients using PD than in HD achieved a haemoglobin level > or = 95 g/l (p = 0.02). The HD group had significantly higher ferritin values. Serum iron and intact PTH were not different between the groups. In conclusion, s.c. EPO injections once, or occasionally twice, weekly increased blood haemoglobin levels in a greater proportion of patients on PD than in those on HD.