title: Efficacy of subcutaneous epoetin-zeta on anemia in renal transplant recipients: a single-center experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Persistent or "de novo" anemia (plasma hemoglobin<11 g/dL) may complicate the graft outcome in a significant number of renal transplant recipients. We describe a single-center experience with epoetin-zeta (EPO-Z), the biosimilar form for epoetin-alfa.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty patients were included in the study, 10 in treatment with different erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESA) and shifted to EPO-Z (shift group) and 10 who started EPO-Z treatment for anemia (naive group). All the patients had stable renal function and normal values of main inflammation markers and were prospectively followed up for 12 months. Iron supplements were administered during the study, as needed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the shift group, mean plasma hemoglobin levels>11 g/dL were maintained for the entire 1-year follow-up period, with average EPO-Z doses 3.4% higher than the corresponding doses of previous ESA; in the naive group, the target value was reached between the first and third months and remained stable throughout the study. Mean corpuscular volume did not vary in either group. No change was observed in glomerular filtration rate, nor in proteinuria or in main laboratory data. No drug-related side effect was reported.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EPO-Z may be considered a valid alternative to different ESAs in renal transplant recipients, with an interesting pharmaco-economic profile, considering its lower cost.
authors.affiliation: Renal Transplantation, Department of Public Health, University Federico II of Naples, Naples, Italy. Electronic address: sabbatin@unina.it.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sabbatini
authors.affiliation: Renal Transplantation, Department of Public Health, University Federico II of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vitale
authors.affiliation: Renal Transplantation, Department of Public Health, University Federico II of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Garofalo
authors.affiliation: Renal Transplantation, Department of Public Health, University Federico II of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Torino
authors.affiliation: Renal Transplantation, Department of Public Health, University Federico II of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gallo
authors.affiliation: Renal Transplantation, Department of Public Health, University Federico II of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Carrano
authors.affiliation: Renal Transplantation, Department of Public Health, University Federico II of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Federico
mesh_terms: D000740:Anemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000068817:Epoetin Alfa; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006397:Hematinics / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D066027:Transplant Recipients
chemical_list: D006397:Hematinics; D006454:Hemoglobins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C530192:epoetin zeta; D004921:Erythropoietin; D000068817:Epoetin Alfa