Darbepoetin Alfa Effectively Treats Anemia in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease with de novo Every-Other-Week Administration
- Toto, Robert D.
- Pichette, Vincent
- Navarro, Jesus
- Brenner, Robert
- Carroll, Wendi
- Liu, Wei
- Roger, Simon
Abstract
Aim:
This multicenter, open-label study determined safety and efficacy of once-every-other-week administration of darbepoetin alfa for anemia of chronic kidney disease in erythropoietin-naive patients not on dialysis.
Methods:
Participants with hemoglobin levels <11.0 g/dl at baseline were administered darbepoetin alfa at an initial dosage of 0.75 μg/kg once every other week. The dose was titrated to achieve and maintain a hemoglobin response, defined as a hemoglobin range of between 11.0 and 13.0 g/dl for up to 24 weeks. The primary end point was the dose of darbepoetin alfa at initial hemoglobin response.
Results:
Six hundred and eight patients were enrolled, and 463 completed the study; 95% (95% confidence interval: 0.93, 0.97) of the patients who completed treatment achieved a hemoglobin response. The mean darbepoetin alfa dose at the time of response was 63.5 ± (SD) 16.9 μg, and the mean time to hemoglobin response was 5.7 ± (SD) 4.5 weeks. Oral iron therapy was administered to 60% and intravenous iron to 16% of the participants. Darbepoetin alfa was well tolerated, and adverse events were consistent with those expected in patients with chronic kidney disease.
Conclusion:
Darbepoetin alfa administered once every other week is effective and safe for achieving and maintaining target hemoglobin levels in anemic patients with chronic kidney disease.