A randomised, cross-over study comparing injection site pain with subcutaneous epoetin beta and subcutaneous darbepoetin alfa in patients with chronic kidney disease.
OBJECTIVE
To compare injection site pain of subcutaneous (sc) epoetin beta and darbepoetin alfa in adult patients with chronic kidney disease.


METHODS
This was a multi-centre, randomised, two-arm, single-blind, cross-over study. Patients were randomised to receive weekly sc darbepoetin alfa 30 mug or weekly sc epoetin beta 6000 IU for 2 weeks and were then crossed over to the alternative treatment for 2 weeks. Injection site pain was assessed using a 10 cm ungraduated visual analogue scale (0 = no pain, 10 = worst pain) and a six-point verbal rating scale. Patient preference for treatment was also assessed.


BACKGROUND
http://clinicaltrials. gov/(NCT00377481).


RESULTS
All randomised patients (N = 48) completed the study. The sample comprised 29 chronic kidney disease patients (Stage 3 or Stage 4), 11 peritoneal dialysis patients and 8 renal transplant patients. Patients perceived significantly less pain with epoetin beta than darbepoetin alfa, using the visual analogue scale (relative pain score = 2.75, darbepoetin alfa:epoetin beta, 95% CI: 1.85, 4.07; p < 0.0001) and the verbal rating scale (median: 0.5, 95% CI: 0.5, 1.0 vs. median: 1.5, 95% CI: 1.0, 2.0; p < 0.0001). Epoetin beta was preferred by significantly more patients (65%) than darbepoetin alfa (10%) (p < 0.001); 25% of patients reported no preference.


CONCLUSIONS
Limitations included lack of an epoetin alfa comparator and limited blinding (patients were blinded to treatment, however, an unblinded nurse administered treatment). We show that sc injection of epoetin beta is significantly less painful than darbepoetin alfa and patient preference for epoetin beta confirms that the difference is clinically meaningful.
Renal Research, Gosford, Australia. sroger@nsccahs.health.nsw.gov.au
Simon D
SD
Roger
Michael G
MG
Suranyi
Rowan G
RG
Walker
Alex
A
Disney
Nicole M
NM
Isbel
Lukas
L
Kairaitis
Carol A
CA
Pollock
Fiona G
FG
Brown
Josephine
J
Chow
Matt I
MI
Truman
Kellie A
KA
Ulyate
D000368:Aged; D000068256:Darbepoetin alfa; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C103998:epoetin beta; D004921:Erythropoietin; D000068256:Darbepoetin alfa