• Zeljka Mustapić, Nikolina Basić-Jukić, Vesna Lovcić, and Petar Kes.
• Klinicki bolnicki centar Zagreb i Medicinski fakultet Sveucilista u Zagrebu, Zavod za nefrologiju, arterijsku hipertenziju i dijalizu, Hrvatska. zpalekal@hotmail.com
• Acta Med Croatica. 2011 Jan 1; 65 (4): 331-6.

AbstractPost-transplant erythrocytosis is defined as an increase in hematocrit above 55%. It occurs in 10%-15% of renal transplant recipients, most commonly from 8 to 24 months after transplantation. Twenty-five percent of patients experience spontaneous remission within 2 years, while 75% develop symptoms and signs of hyperviscosity (headache, hypertension, plethora). The etiology is multifactorial and includes erythropoietin, renin-angiotensin system (RAS) and IGF-1 as the main factors. RAS inhibition with either ACE inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers is efficient therapy which decreases hematocrit in 90% of patients within 2 to 6 weeks, thus decreasing the incidence of fatal complications (like pulmonary embolism and stroke).

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