Intracellular Ca²⁺ levels in erythrocytes control biophysical properties and an increase in its concentration can deregulate membrane composition, cell volume, glycolytic enzymes regulation, redox state, and cell clearance.We evaluated the role of single nucleotide polymorphisms in ITPA, CYP27B1, CYP24A1, and VDR genes in the prediction of ribavirin-induced anemia in HCV-1/2/3/4 patients at 2 and 4 weeks of treatment.
In addition to well-known factors responsible for both anemia and inadequate response to erythropoietin (EPO), we examined the contribution of the VDR genotype to hematocrit (Hct), hemoglobin (Hb) level, total weekly dose of EPO, and EPO-Hb ratio as an index of patient EPO need.
We hypothesized that the vitamin D receptor (VDR) genotype, which may differentiate response to endogenous or exogenous active vitamin D, has a role in the management of anemia in hemodialysis (HD) patients.