title: Darbepoetin alfa, a new therapy for the management of anemia of chronic kidney disease.
abstract: Anemia of chronic kidney disease (CKD) results primarily from a deficiency of the hormone erythropoietin. Treatment of anemia in the early stages of CKD is essential to reduce the risk of developing anemia-associated complications and to improve health-related quality of life. Treatment with recombinant human erythropoietin (r-HuEPO, epoetin alfa) can correct erythropoietin deficiency and increase red blood cell production, but the short half-life of r-HuEPO necessitates frequent injections. Reducing the frequency of administration has potential benefits for both patients and health care providers. Darbepoetin alfa is a new erythropoietic protein with greater biologic activity and a longer dosing interval than those of r-HuEPO. It has been shown to be effective when administered once/week and once every 2, 3, or 4 weeks, and is well tolerated. With the ability to simplify anemia management by allowing less frequent dosing, darbepoetin alfa offers an effective alternative to r-HuEPO for the treatment of anemia of CKD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University of Tennessee, Memphis 38163, USA. jhudson@utmem.edu
authors.forename: Joanna Q
authors.initials: JQ
authors.lastname: Hudson
authors.forename: Roya M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Sameri
mesh_terms: D000740:Anemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D000818:Animals; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D000068256:Darbepoetin alfa; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D000068817:Epoetin Alfa; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006397:Hematinics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
chemical_list: D006397:Hematinics; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin; D000068256:Darbepoetin alfa; D000068817:Epoetin Alfa