TITLE:
Hemoglobin Level Stability after a Switch from Darbepoetin Alfa to Epoetin Beta Pegol for the Treatment of Renal Anemia in Hemodialysis Patients
AUTHORS:
Sayaka Takahashi, Yoshiko Tanaka, Mari Takano, Keiko Suzuki, Mio Ueda, Yukiko Shimamoto, Kosaku Nitta
KEYWORDS:
Darbepoetin Alfa, Epoetin Beta Pegol, Hemoglobin, ESA Resistance, Hemodialysis
JOURNAL NAME:
International Journal of Clinical Medicine,
Vol.6 No.9,
September
17,
2015
ABSTRACT: Background: New erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) with a longer half-life have been developed for the treatment of anemia as a complication of patients with end-stage renal disease. Objectives: The objective of the present study was to assess the hemoglobin (Hb) stability of a Japanese cohort of hemodialysis (HD) patients who were simultaneously switched from darbepoetin alfa (DA) to epoetin beta pegol (CERA). Methods: This was an observational, prospective study of HD patients 20 years of age or more who were switched from intravenous (IV) DA to IV CERA and continued on HD for at least 3 months. The dose was adjusted to maintain the Hb level to within 1.0 g/dl of the baseline value. Results: A total of 68 HD patients (75.0% male, median age 63.0 years) were enrolled. The patients’ mean Hb levels were 10.8 ± (0.6) g/dl at Month 0, 10.9 ± 0.7 at Month 1, 10.8 ± 0.7 at Month 2, and 10.9 ± 0.8 at Month 3, and the differences from the level at Month 0 were not significant. After the switch, the ESA dose decreased significantly (P P