Erythropoietin has been demonstrated to improve the quality of life in patients with chronic renal failure, and growth hormone has been approved for use in children with chronic renal failure and short stature as a growth promoting agent. Growth factors also have great therapeutic potential to improve glomerular function in the setting of chronic renal failure. Further studies are required to delineate the role of insulin-like growth factor I in the setting of end-stage chronic renal failure.