A randomized control study on the procedure for switching epoetin beta (EPO) to epoetin beta pegol (CERA) in the treatment of renal anemia in maintenance hemodialysis patients

Tatsunori Toida; Yuji Sato; Norihiko Shibata; Kazuo Kitamura; Shouichi Fujimoto

doi:10.1159/000368391

A randomized control study on the procedure for switching epoetin beta (EPO) to epoetin beta pegol (CERA) in the treatment of renal anemia in maintenance hemodialysis patients

Blood Purif. 2014;38(3-4):174-9. doi: 10.1159/000368391. Epub 2014 Dec 6.

Authors

Tatsunori Toida¹, Yuji Sato, Norihiko Shibata, Kazuo Kitamura, Shouichi Fujimoto

Affiliation

¹ Department of Hemovascular Medicine and Artificial Organs, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan.

PMID: 25502179
DOI: 10.1159/000368391

Abstract

Background/aims: We investigated the method of switching EPO to CERA that does not cause a decrease in the Hb level.

Methods: Fifty EPO-treated patients were randomly divided into two groups in which CERA was administered every two weeks (Q2W) or every four weeks (Q4W). After 8 weeks of treatment, the frequency of administration was changed to Q4W in the former. Follow-up was performed for 24 weeks.

Results: There was no difference in the Hb level between the two groups until 6 weeks. In the Q2W group, the Hb maintained a stable level throughout a study period. However, in the Q4W group, the Hb level was significantly lower than in the Q2W group at weeks 9, 11, and 13.

Conclusion: EPO switching to CERA without a decrease in the Hb level could be achieved by administering CERA every two weeks, but not every four weeks, for a specific period after switching.

Publication types

Comparative Study
Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

Aged
Anemia / blood
Anemia / drug therapy*
Anemia / etiology
Drug Administration Schedule
Drug Substitution
Erythropoiesis / drug effects
Erythropoietin / administration & dosage
Erythropoietin / pharmacology
Erythropoietin / therapeutic use*
Female
Ferritins / blood
Hematinics / administration & dosage
Hematinics / pharmacology
Hematinics / therapeutic use*
Hemoglobins / analysis
Hepcidins / blood
Humans
Kidney Failure, Chronic / blood
Kidney Failure, Chronic / therapy*
Male
Middle Aged
Polyethylene Glycols / administration & dosage
Polyethylene Glycols / pharmacology
Polyethylene Glycols / therapeutic use*
Recombinant Proteins / administration & dosage
Recombinant Proteins / pharmacology
Recombinant Proteins / therapeutic use
Renal Dialysis / adverse effects*
Transferrin / analysis

Substances

Hematinics
Hemoglobins
Hepcidins
Recombinant Proteins
Transferrin
continuous erythropoietin receptor activator
epoetin beta
hepcidin 25, human
Erythropoietin
Polyethylene Glycols
Ferritins