title: Pharmacokinetics of recombinant human erythropoietin in dialysis patients after single and multiple subcutaneous administrations.
abstract: The pharmacokinetics of recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) were evaluated after single intravenous and single subcutaneous administration of 40 U/kg to 8 patients with dialysis treatment. All patients suffered from renal anemia with a hematocrit less than or equal to 24% and were treated with 40 U/kg rhEPO subcutaneously, three times a week for 6 weeks. At the end of the treatment period, kinetics of rhEPO were repeated. After the initial subcutaneous rhEPO dose, the following results were obtained: maximum plasma concentration 39.5 (26.7-56.9) U/l, area under the curve (AUC) 1,122 (582-3,220) U.h.1-1 and terminal half-life 13.2 (2.6-53.1) h. The corresponding data after multiple rhEPO doses were: maximum rhEPO plasma concentration 26.3 (9.4-49.1) U/l, AUC 724 (407-1,464) U.h.1-1 and terminal half-life 14.2 (3.5-24.4) h. There were no statistical significant differences between the two investigations. From the present study, it can be concluded that after a treatment period of 6 weeks with multiple subcutaneous rhEPO doses, rhEPO absorption as well as rhEPO elimination are unchanged.
authors.affiliation: Nephrologische Abteilung, Universitätsklinik Rudolf Virchow/Charlottenburg, Freie Universität Berlin, BRD.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kampf
authors.forename: K U
authors.initials: KU
authors.lastname: Eckardt
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schmalisch
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ehmer
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schostak
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000740:Anemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D005260:Female; D006207:Half-Life; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010531:Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory; D006435:Renal Dialysis
chemical_list: D004921:Erythropoietin