EPO blood pressure mystery: small study halted early

NCT ID NCT03810911

First seen Nov 01, 2025 · Last updated Jun 23, 2026 · Updated 36 times

Summary

This study looked at why erythropoietin (EPO), a drug used to treat anemia, can raise blood pressure in people with chronic kidney disease. Researchers planned to enroll 160 participants but stopped early with only 27. The goal was to measure changes in blood pressure and blood vessel function over 12 weeks. Because it was terminated, the findings are limited.

Disclaimer Read more

This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

Get updates

Get notified about this study

Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for ANEMIA are added.

Our safety recommendation!

By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center, Indianapolis, IN

    Indianapolis, Indiana, 46202-2884, United States

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance

Darbepoetin (EPO)

What this could lead to

If successful, this could help doctors understand why EPO raises blood pressure, potentially leading to safer anemia treatments for kidney disease patients.

What could go wrong

The study was terminated early with only 27 out of 160 planned participants, so results are limited and may not be reliable. It was a small, early-phase study focused on understanding mechanisms, not testing a new treatment.

Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

anemia chronic kidney disease chronic renal failure syndrome hypertensive disorder

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.