Erythrocytosis After Renal Transplantation

Abstract

Since anemia is one of the main obstacles to optimal rehabilitation of anephric patients supported with hemodialysis, it is ironic that erythrocytosis has proved a troublesome complication in a few patients who have undergone renal transplantation. This complication was first described by Nies et al¹ and subsequently confirmed by Hoffman,² Jepson et al,³ Swales and Evans,⁴ Westerman et al,⁵ Abbrecht and Greene,⁶ and Denny et al.⁷ The purpose of this report is to describe two patients who developed erythrocytosis after each received a transplanted kidney from the same cadaveric donor. We will compare their clinical manifestations and erythropoietin levels with those reported in the literature in an effort to understand the pathogenesis of the plethora. Patient Summaries Patient 1. —A 29-year-old graduate student from Bolivia was first admitted to the University of Iowa Hospitals on July 15, 1969, for treatment of uremia.