Treatment of anemia in patients with chronic heart failure.
Anemia occurs frequently in chronic heart failure (CHF) patients and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality risk. Clinical trials with recombinant human erythropoietin in patients with chronic kidney disease and concomitant structural heart disease have demonstrated beneficial effects on ventricular remodeling but variable effects on clinical outcome. Preliminary clinical trials in patients with CHF demonstrate that erythropoietin therapy is well-tolerated and associated with short-term clinical benefits. The optimum target hemoglobin, erythropoietin dosing regimen, and role of iron supplementation in patients with CHF are not known. Darbepoetin alfa is a glycosylated derivative of erythropoietin with a prolonged half-life that may allow less frequent dosing in CHF populations. Additional studies are needed to determine the safety and efficacy of long-term erythropoietic therapy in CHF patients.
Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University College of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA.
Stuart D
SD
Katz
Donna
D
Mancini
Ana Silvia
AS
Androne
Katarzyna
K
Hryniewicz
D000740:Anemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D000068256:Darbepoetin alfa; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D009017:Morbidity; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D051437:Renal Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D004921:Erythropoietin; D000068256:Darbepoetin alfa