title: A comparison between epoetin omega and epoetin alfa in the correction of anemia in hemodialysis patients: a prospective, controlled crossover study.
abstract: The objective of the study was to evaluate and compare the safety and effectiveness of epoetin omega (produced in baby hamster kidney cells) and epoetin alfa (produced in Chinese hamster ovary cells) in sustaining the correction of anemia in maintenance hemodialysis patients. The study, a prospective and controlled crossover, was completed in 38 stable patients treated with both epoetins for 24 weeks. Group A (17 patients) started with epoetin omega, and Group B (21 patients) started with epoetin alfa. After 24 weeks, a 4 week crossover (wash out) was made: Group A was switched to epoetin alfa and group B to epoetin omega for the next test period of 24 weeks. Both epoetins were administered subcutaneously after each dialysis. Doses were adjusted with the aim of maintaining a target hemoglobin level between 10 and 12 g/dl (hematocrit 30% to 35%). The mean weekly dose of epoetin omega/kg body weight (BW) was 67 +/- 43 U. The mean weekly dose of epoetin alfa/kg BW was 86 +/- 53 U. The average of all mean values of hemoglobin (Hb) during treatment with epoetin omega was 11.4 +/- 0.7 g/dl (hematocrit 34 +/- 2%), and during treatment with epoetin alfa was 11.3 +/- 0.7 g/dl (hematocrit 33 +/- 2%) (not significant). Thromboses of vascular access occurred in 3 patients during an epoetin omega treatment and in 3 patients during epoetin alfa treatment. At the site of injection, only 1 patient described a mild pain when treated with epoetin omega and only 6 patients when treated with epoetin alfa. In conclusion, both epoetin omega and epoetin alfa were effective in correcting the anemia of all studied patients. However, lower doses of epoetin omega were needed to maintain the same target hemoglobin level. No serious side effects with either epoetin were noted. The authors believe that additional comparisons of different epoetin preparations should be performed and will provide better insight into their biological activity and clinical responsiveness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, University Medical Center, Ljubljana, Zaloska 7, 1525 Ljublijana, Slovenia. andrej.bren@mf.uni-lj.si
authors.forename: Andrej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bren
authors.forename: Aljosa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kandus
authors.forename: Janez
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Varl
authors.forename: Jadranka
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Buturović
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ponikvar
authors.forename: Radoslav
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kveder
authors.forename: Stanislav
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Primozic
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ivanovich
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000740:Anemia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D000068817:Epoetin Alfa; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006400:Hematocrit; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin; D000068817:Epoetin Alfa