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Effects of three kinds of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents on renal anemia in Japanese non-dialysis chronic kidney disease patients

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Abstract

Background

Erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) are standard therapy for chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients with renal anemia. However, few studies have compared the effects of different ESAs on anemia in identical pre-dialysis CKD patients.

Methods

Seventy-nine patients who switched from epoetin beta to darbepoetin alfa (Group 1), and 82 patients who switched from darbepoetin alfa to epoetin beta pegol (Group 2) were enrolled in this study. Clinical and laboratory parameters were assessed for 6 months before and after switching ESAs. The prevalence of adverse events, the dose conversion ratio of ESAs, and the frequency of ESA administration were also analyzed.

Results

Analysis of variance showed that switching ESAs did not significantly change hemoglobin levels for the study duration in both groups (mean hemoglobin 10.3–10.5 g/dL in Group 1 and 10.4–10.7 g/dL in Group 2). Estimated glomerular filtration rate, blood pressure, transferrin saturation, ferritin, and albumin remained constant in both groups. The prevalence of adverse effects was quite low (0–3.8 %) during both 6-month study periods. The mean dose conversion ratio for epoetin beta:darbepoetin alfa was 163.7 units:1 μg and for darbepoetin alfa:epoetin beta pegol was 1.08 μg:1 μg. The intervals of ESA administration significantly differed (epoetin beta pegol > darbepoetin alfa > epoetin beta).

Conclusions

Epoetin beta, darbepoetin alfa, and epoetin beta pegol are effective and well-tolerated agents for managing anemia in Japanese pre-dialysis CKD patients. The intervals of ESA administration to maintain a patient’s target hemoglobin were longer in the order of epoetin beta pegol > darbepoetin alfa > epoetin beta.

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Conflict of interest

The authors have declared that no conflict of interest exists.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nephrology, Shuuwa General Hospital, 1200 Yahara-Shinden, Kasukabe, Saitama, 344-0035, Japan

    Michio Kuwahara, Syoko Hasumi, Shintaro Mandai, Tomomi Tanaka, Satomi Shikuma, Wataru Akita & Yoshihiro Mori

  2. Department of Nephrology, Tokyo Medical and Dental University Graduate School, Tokyo, Japan

    Sei Sasaki

Authors
  1. Michio Kuwahara
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  2. Syoko Hasumi
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  3. Shintaro Mandai
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  4. Tomomi Tanaka
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  5. Satomi Shikuma
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  6. Wataru Akita
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  7. Yoshihiro Mori
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  8. Sei Sasaki
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Correspondence to Michio Kuwahara.

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Kuwahara, M., Hasumi, S., Mandai, S. et al. Effects of three kinds of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents on renal anemia in Japanese non-dialysis chronic kidney disease patients . Clin Exp Nephrol 18, 755–762 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10157-013-0919-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10157-013-0919-0

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