INTRODUCTION: The metabolic syndrome (MS) components, such as dyslipidemia, 
prothrombotic status, and increased blood pressure, are risk factors for 
patients with renal disease. Visceral fat mass is closely related to the MS and 
atherosclerosis. We investigated the effects of body compositions and MS on 
anemia parameters and recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) requirements in 
maintenance hemodialysis patients.
METHODS: Body composition (body mass index and bioimpedance analysis) and 
laboratory data were obtained from 110 dialysis patients. The MS was identified 
according to ATP-III criteria. Anemia parameters, hemoglobin (Hgb), albumin, 
C-reactive protein (CRP), calcium, phosphorus, parathormone levels, and rHuEPO 
requirements over the last 6 months were retrospectively analyzed.
RESULTS: Patients with the MS seem to reach target Hgb levels more frequently 
(10-12 g/dL; 66.3% vs 84.8%; P = .03) without any difference in total 
intravenous iron therapy dosage. MS patients also required lower rHuEPO for 
reaching similar Hgb levels compared with patients without MS (2679.3 ± 1936.1 
vs 3702.5 ± 2213.0 U/kg/6 mo; P = .02). There were no differences in serum CRP, 
albumin, or Hgb levels between the 2 groups (P > .05). We observed that patients 
with MS had significantly higher fat mass and visceral fat ratio, but similar 
muscle mass values compared with no-MS counterparts (P = .0001 and .001, 
respectively). However, when we compared the ratios of these parameters we 
observed a significant reduction in muscle ratios and a significant increase in 
fat ratios of MS patients (P = .0001).
CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that MS might be an advantage for reaching 
higher Hgb levels with lower rHuEPO dosages. The possible reason for this might 
be the good nutritional state and increased fat mass of patients with MS.