PMID: 9554820Apr 29, 1998Paper

Efficacy and tolerability of recombinant human erythropoietin treatment in pre-dialysis patients: results of a multicenter study

The International Journal of Artificial Organs
A AlbertazziL Colombi

Abstract

Chronic renal failure is characterized by a normochromic normocytic anemia, the severity of which generally increases during progression toward uremia. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of recombinant human erythropoietin (rHu-EPO) given subcutaneously (s.c.), the dose required to reach and maintain Hb levels within 10 and 11 g% and its effects, if any, on the progression of chronic renal failure. Eighty-four pre-dialysis patients (46 F, 38M, age 61.7+/-13.9 years) with Hb levels between 6 and 9 g% and serum creatinine ranging from 3 to 9 mg/dl were treated with s.c. rHu-EPO (2000 U/twice weekly). After 6 weeks, if Hb increase was below 1 g%, 1000 U of s.c. rHu-EPO were added at each administration (3000 U twice weekly). Once the Hb target was reached (10-11 g%), the rHu-EPO weekly dose was halved and administration reduced to once weekly. The patients showed a significant rise in mean Hb values (p<0.001) after 3 months. Mean Hb values were as follows: 8.00+/-0.77 g% (pretreatment), 9.35+/-1.0 (3rd month), 10.06+/-1.04 (6th month), 10.25+/-0.62 g% (12th month). The mean rHu-EPO doses were 4000 U/w (start of the study), 3592+/-1685 U/w (6th month), 2840-/+1178 U/w (12th month). Renal function was e...Continue Reading

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Anemia

Anemia develops when your blood lacks enough healthy red blood cells. Anemia of inflammation (AI, also called anemia of chronic disease) is a common, typically normocytic, normochromic anemia that is caused by an underlying inflammatory disease. Here is the latest research on anemia.