[Effectiveness of darbepoietin alfa in anemic patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) in predialysis period]

Abstract

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) often suffer from anemia due to erythropoietin deficiency. Anemia treatment with erythropoietin in patients with chronic kidney disease can effectively maintain hemoglobin target level > 11g/dl. In this study we presented the results of anemia treatment with darbepoietin alfa in 18 patients with chronic kidney disease (3-5 stage of CKD) in predialysis period. After 10 weeks of darbepoietin alfa administration at the dose 10 microg/week, hemoglobin serum level had increased over 11 g/dl in 15 patients. In the 3 patients serum hemoglobin level during the darbepoietin alfa treatment did not increased. Between 15 patients, in 4 after 10 weeks of darbepoietin alfa treatment at the dose 10 microg/week and in 7 after 15 weeks of the treatment at the dose 15 microg/2 weeks hemoglobin serum level had increased over 13 g/dl. After 2 months with out darbepoietin alfa treatment hemoglobin serum level had decreased but still maintain the target level 11 g/dl. darbepoietin alfa was well tolerated. The results of this study demonstrate that darbepoietin alfa administered s.c. once weekly or once other week at a small doses is effective in renal anemia treatment and comfortable for a patients.