title: Darbepoetin alfa administered every other week maintains hemoglobin levels over 52 weeks in patients with chronic kidney disease converting from once-weekly recombinant human erythropoietin: results from simplify the treatment of anemia with Aranesp (STAAR).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Darbepoetin alfa, an effective treatment for anemia of chronic kidney disease (CKD), can be administered at extended intervals. Simplify the Treatment of Anemia with Aranesp (STAAR), a multicenter, 52-week study, was conducted to assess the efficacy of darbepoetin alfa administered subcutaneously every other week (Q2W) in maintaining hemoglobin (Hb) in CKD patients not receiving dialysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a subgroup analysis of subjects converted from once-weekly (QW) recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO; US Aranesp package insert) and who received up to 52 weeks of darbepoetin alfa therapy (evaluation period 20-32 weeks). Enrolled subjects had a creatinine clearance < or = 70 ml/min or an estimated glomerular filtration rate < or = 60 ml/min and transferrin saturation > or = 20%. Darbepoetin alfa doses were titrated to maintain Hb levels < or = 12 g/dl. The primary endpoint was mean Hb during evaluation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 524 subjects enrolled in the study who were previously receiving rHuEPO QW. Mean Hb +/- standard deviation was 11.2 +/- 1.27 g/dl at baseline, and the least squares mean +/- SE was 11.4 +/- 0.04 during evaluation. The mean +/- SD Q2W darbepoetin alfa dose was 49.7 +/- 21.9 microg at baseline and 48.9 +/- 35.5 microg at evaluation. Darbepoetin alfa was well tolerated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Study subjects with CKD receiving QW rHuEPO were effectively converted to Q2W darbepoetin alfa, which was well tolerated. Hb levels were maintained over 52 weeks without a significant change in darbepoetin alfa dose.
authors.affiliation: Nephrology Associates, PC, Augusta, GA 30901, USA. jhertel@nephrology-associates.com
authors.forename: Joachim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hertel
authors.forename: Harold
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Locay
authors.forename: Debra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Scarlata
authors.forename: Lynnae
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: Radha
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Prathikanti
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Audhya
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000740:Anemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D000068256:Darbepoetin alfa; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D007501:Iron / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin; D000068256:Darbepoetin alfa; D007501:Iron