Is it time to reconsider subcutaneous administration of epoetin?

Anemia treatment in nondialysis chronic kidney disease (ND-CKD) and dialysis CKD patients (D-CKD) has been recently scrutinized in the literature and by the lay press. New evidence suggests that patients receiving epoetin and achieving higher hemoglobin have a higher risk of death and cardiovascular complications. Data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services demonstrate upward spiraling costs of injectables, especially epoetin, in the care of CKD patients.