title: A comparison between once-weekly and twice- or thrice-weekly subcutaneous injection of epoetin alfa: results from a randomized controlled multicentre study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In patients with chronic renal failure, the ability to reduce the administration frequency of subcutaneous (SC) erythropoietin (epoetin) could provide benefits and may improve compliance. The study investigated whether once-weekly SC epoetin alfa was equivalent to twice- or thrice-weekly SC administration in maintaining anaemia correction in haemodialysis patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-three patients were randomly assigned to either once-weekly epoetin alfa (n = 44) or their original dose twice- or thrice-weekly regimen (control, n = 39) for 12 weeks. The haemoglobin concentration was maintained within the target range of 9.0-12.0 g/dL by adjusting the dose of epoetin alfa. All patients received intravenous iron supplementation, as required.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Stable haemoglobin levels were maintained without epoetin dose increases in the majority of patients in both groups (once-weekly group, 95.0%, control group, 91.4%). The mean haemoglobin levels at randomization at weeks 4, 8 and 12 were 10.7, 11.1, 11.3 and 11.0 g/dL, respectively, in the once-weekly group, and 10.5, 11.3, 11.5 and 11.3 g/dL, respectively, in the control group. The mean weekly dose of epoetin alfa at randomization at weeks 4, 8 and 12 was 142.8, 114.5, 108.6 and 104.5 IU/kg, respectively, in the once-weekly group, and 128.4, 116.0, 101.0 and 96.1 IU/kg/week, respectively, in the control group. No statistically significant between-group differences were apparent for changes in haemoglobin levels or epoetin alfa dosages at week 12.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates that once-weekly SC administration of epoetin alfa is as effective and safe as two or three times weekly administration in maintaining haemoglobin levels. Therefore, the once-weekly therapy using high dose of epoetin alfa is considered to be an efficient method in stable haemodialysis patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym Kidney Research Institute, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Young Ki
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sung Gyun
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jang Won
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.forename: Ji Eun
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Jong-Woo
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Ja-Ryong
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Koo
authors.forename: Hyung Jik
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jung Woo
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Noh
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000740:Anemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D000068817:Epoetin Alfa; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006400:Hematocrit; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D006435:Renal Dialysis
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin; D000068817:Epoetin Alfa