Controlled Study of Androgen Therapy in Anemia of Patients on Maintenance Hemodialysis

A double-blind crossover study was designed to determine the effect of androgen therapy on the anemia of patients with chronic renal failure treated with maintenance hemodialysis. Nandrolone decanoate, 100 mg intramuscularly per week, or placebo was administered to 14 patients treated in a center and eight treated at home. During the five-month period of androgen administration mean red-cell mass rose from 946 to 1173 ml (p < 0.001 ), and mean hematocrit from 23 to 27 per cent (p < 0.005). Seventeen of the 21 patients who completed the study improved. There was no improvement in red-cell mass or hematocrit when placebo was given. Blood-transfusion requirements fell from 0.35 to 0.16 units per patient per month (p < 0.05) during the use of androgen. No adverse side effects were observed. It is concluded that nandrolone decanoate has a beneficial effect on anemia in most patients treated with maintenance hemodialysis. (N Engl J Med 291: 1046–1051, 1974)