title: A randomized crossover study of single biweekly administration of epoetin-α compared with darbepoetin-α in chronic kidney disease patients not receiving dialysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recent evidence demonstrates that high doses of epoetin-alpha (EPO-α) can be administrated at extended intervals, despite its relatively short serum half-life. However, no prospective randomized trials on the effects of extended dosing intervals of EPO-α compared with darbepoetin-alpha (DA-α) have been performed. This study was designed to investigate whether a single biweekly (Q2W) administration of a high dose of EPO-α is as effective as DA-α for anemia in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients not receiving dialysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty non-dialysis CKD patients were equally randomized to either Q2W subcutaneous EPO-α (10,000 unit) or DA-α (50 μg) therapy groups for the first 6 weeks. After a 6-week washout period, the participants of the EPO-α and DA-α treatment groups switched to the alternate regimen for 6 weeks. The mean hemoglobin (Hb) levels after erythropoiesis stimulating agent (ESA) therapy and percentage change in Hb levels from baseline to the end of the study were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean Hb levels of postESA therapy increased significantly compared with those of preESA therapy in both ESA regimens. The percentage increase in Hb levels and erythropoietin resistance index did not show a significant difference between the different ESA regimens. No difference was observed between the regimens regarding mean Hb levels after ESA therapy. Additionally, there were no serious adverse effects leading to withdrawal from treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Biweekly high doses of EPO-α therapy may be equally as effective as Q2W DA-α therapy in maintaining target Hb levels in non-dialysis CKD patients.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Konkuk University Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Ha-Young
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Na
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, NHIC Ilsan Hospital, Goyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Yong-Kyu
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, NHIC Ilsan Hospital, Goyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Sug-Kyun
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Bundang CHA Hospital, Sungnam, Korea.
authors.forename: Dong-Ho
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Konkuk University Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Woong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Cheon
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Konkuk University Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jung-Hwan
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Konkuk University Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jong-Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Konkuk University Chungju Hospital, Chungju, Korea.
authors.forename: Jong-Oh
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Konkuk University Medical Center, Seoul, Korea; BK-21, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Young-Il
authors.initials: YI
authors.lastname: Jo
keywords: Anemia; Chronic kidney disease; Darbepoetin-alpha; Epoetin-alpha