Background And Objectives: Although epoetin alfa is commonly initiated weekly (QW) in anemic chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, recent evidence indicates that it can be initiated every 2 wk (Q2W) and used in maintenance therapy every 4 wk (Q4W). This study examined the feasibility of initiating epoetin alfa Q4W in anemic CKD patients not receiving dialysis.

Design, Setting, Participants, & Measurements: This open-label study randomized subjects (1:2:2:2) to treatment with epoetin alfa 10,000 IU QW, 20,000 IU Q2W, 20,000 IU Q4W, or 40,000 IU Q4W for 16 wk. Subjects were > or =18 yr, had hemoglobin <11 g/dl, a glomerular filtration rate of 15 to 90 ml/min per 1.73 m(2), and had not received erythropoietic therapy within 8 wk. The primary analysis was a noninferiority comparison of the 40,000 IU Q4W to the 20,000 IU Q2W group in the per-protocol population with respect to hemoglobin change from baseline to the end of study.

Results: Of 262 subjects randomized, 229 comprised the per-protocol population. Mean hemoglobin change from baseline for the 40,000 IU Q4W group (1.24 g/dl) was not inferior to the 20,000 IU Q2W group (1.11 g/dl) with the lower limit of 95% CI, -0.21 g/dl. In the QW, 20,000 IU Q2W, 20,000 IU Q4W, and 40,000 IU Q4W groups, 90%, 87%, 75%, and 86% of subjects, respectively, achieved a hemoglobin increase > or =1 g/dl. Serious adverse events were similar across all groups.

Conclusions: Epoetin alfa can be initiated Q4W in anemic CKD subjects.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2440274PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.2215/CJN.05681207DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

epoetin alfa
20
chronic kidney
8
kidney disease
8
ckd patients
8
q4w anemic
8
anemic ckd
8
epoetin
5
alfa
5
q4w
5
randomized study
4

Similar Publications

Efficacy and safety of daprodustat in patients on peritoneal dialysis in the ASCEND-D trial.

Nephrol Dial Transplant

November 2024

Department of Medicine and Nephrology, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico.

Background And Hypothesis: Daprodustat, an oral hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase inhibitor, is approved for treatment of anemia in dialysis patients with CKD in some parts of the world. This subgroup analysis examined the efficacy and safety of daprodustat versus darbepoetin alfa in patients with anemia of CKD undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD).

Methods: ASCEND-D (NCT02879305) was an open-label, Phase 3 trial; patients with CKD were randomized to daprodustat daily and epoetin alfa (HD patients) or darbepoetin alfa (PD patients).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are clonal myeloid disorders characterised by ineffective haematopoiesis, leading to anaemia that often requires dependence on red blood cell (RBC) transfusions. Epoetin alfa (Eprex®) is now a mainstay in the management of symptomatic anaemia in low-risk MDS patients, reducing transfusion dependence and improving the quality of life in this patient group. Objective This retrospective study aimed to assess the efficacy of epoetin alfa in treating symptomatic anaemia in low-risk MDS patients, focusing on transfusion independence and its relationship with baseline erythropoietin (EPO) levels and haemoglobin (Hb) response.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Luspatercept, an inhibitor of the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) pathway, is a novel treatment for anemic patients with lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) with transfusion dependence (TD) who do not respond to erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESA) therapy or are not suitable candidates for this treatment. We present real-world experience with luspatercept therapy from two hematology centers in the Czech Republic.

Methods: By January 2024, 54 MDS patients (33 men, 21 women) with a median age of 74 years (range, 55-95) were treated with luspatercept ± ESA at two Charles University hematology centers in Prague and Hradec Králové.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: We evaluated the efficacy and safety of roxadustat, a first-in-class hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase inhibitor, for chemotherapy-induced anemia (CIA) in patients with nonmyeloid malignancies receiving multicycle treatments of chemotherapy.

Patients And Methods: In this open-label, noninferiority phase III study conducted at 44 sites in China, 159 participants age ≥18 years with CIA nonmyeloid malignancy and CIA were randomly assigned (1:1) to oral roxadustat or subcutaneous recombinant human erythropoietin-α (rHuEPO-α) three times a week for 12 weeks. Roxadustat starting dosages were 100, 120, and 150 mg three times a week for participants weighing 40-<50, 50-60, and >60 kg, respectively.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!