Abstract.The effect of long‐term treatment with human recombinant erythropoietin (rHuEPO) has been studied in nine end‐stage renal disease patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD).RHuEPO was administered subcutaneously twice weekly in rising doses starting with 50 Ukg–1body weight. After 3 months of rHuEPO haemoglobin increased from 77±7 ± 3±2 to 112±7 ± 5±6 g l–1(P<0±03), haematocrit rose from 22±8 ± 1±2 to 30±3 ± 1±7% (P<0±01). A consistent decrease in ferritin concentration was observed during this time (P<0±05). After 12 months of rHuEPO treatment and increased oral iron supplementation the rises of haemoglobin and haematocrit remained stable without other significant haematological changes.The rHuEPO‐induced rise in haematocrit was associated with an increased peritoneal ultrafiltration (UF) without change in diuresis and body weight. UF improved from 128 ± 28 ml 4 h–1dwell time to 273 ± 45 ml 4 h–1(P<0±03) within 3 months of rHuEPO treatment, and remained stable during the following study period (month 12: 253 ± 43 ml 4h–1,P<0±05).The rise in UF resulted in improved peritoneal clearances of creatinine, urea, potassium, and phosphate (P<0±05, month 3). No change was observed in serum urea, creatinine, calcium, and potassium. Serum phosphate increased throughout the first 6 months of rHuEPO (P<0±05). No severe adverse effects of rHuEPO treatment could be observed.The present results demonstrate that long‐term subcutaneous administration of rHuEPO is effective in correcting renal anaemia in CAPD patients and may improve dialysis efficiency