Darbepoetin alfa once every 2 weeks effectively maintained hemoglobin in dialysis patients in an observational study: Austrian cohort of ALTERNATE.
ALTERNATE is an international observational study evaluating biweekly darbepoetin alfa (DA) in adult dialysis patients in clinical practice. Austrian ALTERNATE results are presented here (n = 505). The follow-up study ALTERNATE follow-up (AFU) followed Austrian ALTERNATE patients for an additional 12 months (n = 135). Data were collected 6 months before and 12 months after conversion to biweekly dosing and during 12 months of follow-up. The primary measures were hemoglobin concentration 12 months after conversion and at the end of AFU, respectively. Mean (95 % CI) hemoglobin (g/dL) was 11.87 (11.75-11.99) at conversion, 11.71 (11.58-11.83) at month 12, and 11.66 (11.45-11.86) at end of AFU. Geometric mean (95 % CI) weekly dose (μg/wk) was 32.97 (30.80-35.30) at conversion, 29.90 (26.71-33.46) 12 months after conversion, and 24.38 (18.40-30.35) at end of AFU. The studies show that hemoglobin and dose could be effectively maintained over an extended period of time after conversion from higher frequency erythropoiesis-stimulating agents to biweekly DA.
Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Nephrology, Dialysis Unit, Krankenhaus der Barmherzigen Brüder, Johannes von Gott Platz 1, 7001, Eisenstadt, Austria, Wolfgang.Pronai@bbeisen.at.
Wolfgang
W
Pronai
Ulrich
U
Neyer
Ursula
U
Barnas
Clemens
C
Wieser
Christine
C
Jaeger
Daniel
D
Dekic
Margit
M
Hemetsberger
Alexander R
AR
Rosenkranz
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001317:Austria; D015331:Cohort Studies; D000068256:Darbepoetin alfa; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006397:Hematinics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006452:Hemoglobinometry; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000628:therapy*; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010530:Peritoneal Dialysis; D006435:Renal Dialysis
D006397:Hematinics; D004921:Erythropoietin; D000068256:Darbepoetin alfa