Several Shanghai hospitals have started using recombinant human erythropoietin or rHuEPO, a synthetic protein that stimulates the production of red blood cells, in patients with severe kidney problems as an alternative to blood transfusions, which can be risky.

At a symposium in the city on uremia-related anemia, a kidney condition that blocks the production of oxygen-carrying components in blood, medical experts said rHuEPO has been proven to be an effective method to treat anemia without strong side effects.

Anemia is a common syndrome for those with chronic kidney failure that can make the kidney problems worse, and severely hamper a patient's quality of life. In China, one in every 10,000 people die from uremia every year on average.

"When the kidney function deteriorates by 40 percent, patients start to get anemia and have to depend on blood transfusions, which are a long-term treatment," said Dr Chen Yipu, chief of the kidney branch of the China Medical Association. "Blood can be the vehicle to more than 20 infectious diseases. Blood transfusions may result in infection and some other side effects such as fever and immune reactions that prevent kidney transplants."

The medical community doesn't encourage transfusions, especially as a long-term therapy, he added.

The rHuEPO was first developed in the West in 1990. China started to use it two years ago.

"Compared with blood transfusions, the treatment is more human-oriented and imposes less danger and suffering to patients," said Dr Mei Changlin of Changzheng Hospital.

(Shanghai Daily May 16, 2005)