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Darbepoetin alpha in lower-than-equimolar doses maintains haemoglobin levels in stable haemodialysis patients converting from epoetin alpha/beta

Bock, H. A. and Hirt-Minkowski, P. and Brünisholz, M. and Keusch, G. and Rey, S. and von Albertini, B. and Swiss, Efixnes trial investigators. (2008) Darbepoetin alpha in lower-than-equimolar doses maintains haemoglobin levels in stable haemodialysis patients converting from epoetin alpha/beta. Nephrology, dialysis, transplantation, Vol. 23. pp. 301-308.

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Official URL: http://edoc.unibas.ch/dok/A6003585

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: The conversion of patients on stable epoetin therapy to darbepoetin alpha is usually carried out according to the '1 microg darbepoetin =200 U epoetin' rule, which is based on the protein content of the two compounds. Since several observations have suggested that this conversion factor leads to an overestimate of the required darbepoetin dose, the present multicentre study was designed to assess the true conversion ratio by prospectively evaluating the change in darbepoetin alpha dose after conversion from epoetin, which was required to keep haemoglobin (Hb) stable. METHODS: Haemodialysis patients with stable Hb and maintained on either s.c. or i.v. epoetin (alpha or beta) were switched to intravenously administered darbepoetin alpha according to the 1:200 rule. Subjects treated with epoetin two or three times per week received one weekly dose of darbepoetin alpha, subjects on weekly epoetin received darbepoetin alpha every 2 weeks. For 20 weeks, darbepoetin alpha was changed every 2 weeks according to a pre-specified algorithm, if this was needed to keep Hb within +/-1.0 g/dl of each subject's individual baseline. Thereafter, patients entered a 4-week evaluation period. RESULTS: One hundred ad thirty-two patients in 17 Swiss centres were enrolled and 100 completed the study throughout the evaluation period. While mean Hb was maintained stable between baseline and evaluation period (11.8+/-0.6 g/dl in both), the mean required darbepoetin alpha dose decreased from 34.7+/-2.1 to 26.0+/-1.8 microg (-25%, Por=5000 IU of epoetin per week is more likely to follow a 1:250 to 1:350 conversion rule. If pricing is based on the 1:200 rule such as in Switzerland, this may translate into cost savings.
Faculties and Departments:03 Faculty of Medicine > Bereich Medizinische Fächer (Klinik) > Nephrologie
03 Faculty of Medicine > Departement Klinische Forschung > Bereich Medizinische Fächer (Klinik) > Nephrologie
UniBasel Contributors:Bock, H. Andreas
Item Type:Article, refereed
Article Subtype:Research Article
Publisher:Oxford University Press
ISSN:0931-0509
Note:Publication type according to Uni Basel Research Database: Journal article
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Last Modified:08 Nov 2012 16:22
Deposited On:08 Nov 2012 16:12

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