The investigation of oral and intravenous ascorbic acid effectiveness on Erythropoietin-hyporesponsive anemia in hemodialysis patients referred to Gorgan 5th Azar educative & therapeutic center

(1) Objective: The study was conducted to investigation of ascorbic acid effectiveness on Erythropoietin-hyporesponsive anemia in hemodialysis patients. (2) Design: randomized controlled trial (RCT). (3) Setting and conduct: seventy five haemodialysis patients were selected from Gorgan 5th Azar educative & therapeutic center via convenience methods. They were randomly allocated into controls (n = 25), oral ascorbic acid (POAA) group (n = 25) and intravenous ascorbic acid (IVAA) group (n = 25). (4): Participants including major eligibility criteria: Inclusion criteria were: at least 6 months history of hemodialysis, more than 6 months treatment duration with rHuEPO, serum ferritin level of 500 ng/mL or more and transferring saturation less than 20%. Exclusion criteria were: History of infection or inflammation within 3 months; C-reactive protein (CRP) level>2 mg/dL; Bleeding or hemolysis within 3 months; Folate level<4 ng/mL; Vitamin B12 level<200 pg/mL; (5) Intervention: Was administered postdialysis (three time weekly) 300mg intravenous vitamin C in IVAA group and orally 500mg vitamin C in POAA group for 8 weeks. (6) Main outcomes variables: Hemoglobin, hematocrit, serum iron, total iron binding capacity (TIBC) and serum oxalate was examined before and following therapy.

Vice chancellor for research, Golestan Medical Sciences University