title: The Safety of Erythropoiesis-Stimulating Agents for the Treatment of Anemia Resulting from Chronic Kidney Disease.
abstract: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) anemia treatment was revolutionized in the late 1980s with the introduction of recombinant human erythropoietin. This and related erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) greatly benefited patients by decreasing debilitating symptoms, improving their quality of life, and freeing them from dependence on blood transfusions with their associated complications such as infections, sensitization impeding transplantation, and secondary iron overload. However, even in the initial studies, untoward effects were noted in patients receiving ESAs, including worsening hypertension, seizures, and dialysis access clotting. Later, increased mortality, malignancy progression and even stroke were reported in renal patients. This review focuses on the safety issues of ESAs in CKD patients.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Risk Institute, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain. nrrobles@yahoo.es.|Unidad de Hipertensión Arterial, Hospital Infanta Cristina, Carretera de Portugal s/n, 06070, Badajoz, Spain. nrrobles@yahoo.es.
authors.forename: Nicolas Roberto
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Robles
mesh_terms: D000740:Anemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D000818:Animals; D004920:Erythropoiesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006397:Hematinics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051436:Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D006397:Hematinics; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin