Comparison of recombinant human erythropoietin and darbepoetin alpha in children

Pediatr Int. 2013 Jun;55(3):296-9. doi: 10.1111/ped.12085.

Abstract

Background: The aim was to compare the clinical efficacy of recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) and darbepoetin alpha (DA) in the treatment of anemia in children with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Method: Thirty-four (13 female, 21 male) CKD patients were enrolled in the study. Mean age was 11.42 ± 4.05 years. Nine patients were on hemodialysis, 18 were on peritoneal dialysis and seven patients were in CKD stage 4.

Results: Seventeen patients received rHuEPO and the remaining 17 patients received DA. Hemoglobin (Hb) was not significantly different between the two groups during monthly follow up and at the end of 6 months (P > 0.05), but there was a significant increase within each group at the end of 6 months (P = 0.01 for rHuEPO; P = 0.02 for DA). Hb was not different between the patients on and not on dialysis in both groups at the end of the study (P > 0.05). The efficacy of the s.c. and i.v. routes was similar within each group (P > 0.05). Systolic hypertension was observed in only one patient in the DA group, no other adverse effect was observed in either groups.

Conclusion: DA is a reasonable alternative to rHuEPO in the treatment of anemia in pediatric CKD patients, due to its clinical efficacy, convenience of use, patient compliance and tolerability.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Anemia / blood
  • Anemia / drug therapy*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Darbepoetin alfa
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Epoetin Alfa
  • Erythropoietin / adverse effects
  • Erythropoietin / analogs & derivatives*
  • Erythropoietin / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Hematinics / adverse effects
  • Hematinics / therapeutic use*
  • Hemoglobinometry*
  • Humans
  • Kidney Failure, Chronic / blood
  • Kidney Failure, Chronic / complications*
  • Kidney Failure, Chronic / drug therapy*
  • Male
  • Peritoneal Dialysis
  • Recombinant Proteins / adverse effects
  • Recombinant Proteins / therapeutic use
  • Renal Dialysis
  • Retrospective Studies

Substances

  • Hematinics
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Erythropoietin
  • Darbepoetin alfa
  • Epoetin Alfa