title: Dosing of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents can be reduced by a new administration regimen.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  At our hemodialysis (HD) unit, we noted a drop in the treatment dose of erythropoietin-stimulating agents (ESAs) when the frequency of dose adjustment was reduced from weekly, where doses were withheld if hemoglobin was >130 g/l, to monthly, where doses were not withheld. The aim of this study was to find an explanation for this reduction in ESA requirement.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a retrospective study on 18 stable HD patients. Comparable follow-up periods of 6 months with the two different ESA adjustment regimens were established and data on ESA dose, hemoglobin and known predictors of ESA response were collected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  With the new ESA administration regimen, a 22.5% drop in the total ESA dose was noted. The corresponding fall in the erythropoietin resistance index was 20.0%. Simultaneously, the dialysis dose and transferrin saturation increased significantly. However, in a multivariate linear regression model, changes in these factors did not significantly predict changes in ESA requirement. No relevant changes were noted in other erythropoiesis-modulating factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Frequent dose adjustments and the current ESA administration practice of withholding ESA doses does not seem to reduce ESA demand. On the contrary, such practice is likely to increase ESA requirement over time.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine-Nephrology, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Bergur V
authors.initials: BV
authors.lastname: Stefánsson
authors.forename: Börje
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Haraldsson
authors.forename: Ulf
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Nilsson