Impact of Dialysis Modality on Hepcidin and Iron Metabolism

Exclusion Criteria

• •Poorly controlled hypertension, i.e. sitting blood pressure exceeding 180/110 despite medication requiring hospitalization or interruption of ESA treatment
• •Significant acute or chronic bleeding such as overt gastrointestinal bleeding within the previous 3 months
• •Active malignant disease (except non-melanoma skin cancer and patients with malignant disease who have been disease-free for at least the 5 previous years are eligible)
• •Acute infection
• •Hemolysis
• •Hemoglobinopathies (e.g. homozygous sickle-cell disease, thalassemia of all types)
• •Megaloblastic anemia
• •Platelet count \>500 x 109/L or \<100 x 109/L
• •Pure red call aplasia
• •Epileptic seizure during previous 3 months
• •Women of childbearing potential without effective contraception
• •Known hypersensitivity to recombinant human erythropoietin, polyethylene glycol
• •Planned elective surgery during the study period except for cataract surgery or laser photocoagulation
• •Life expectancy less than 12 month