[Pharmacokinetics and the time course of pharmacodynamics of recombinant human erythropoietin (SNB-5001)]

Clinical effectiveness of 3 days preoperative treatment with recombinant human erythropoietin in total knee arthroplasty surgery: a clinical trial

AIMS

The purpose of study is to evaluate the effect and complication of preoperative short-term daily recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) treatment for blood-saving in patients undergoing unilateral primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

METHODS

This three-arm randomized clinical trial compared three different rhEPO-based treatment protocols for unilateral primary TKA. Group A: application of daily doses of rhEPO combined with iron supplement starting 3 days before surgery; Group B: application of daily doses of rhEPO combined with iron supplement starting the day of surgery; Group C: iron supplement alone. Perioperative hemoglobin (Hb) level gaps, total perioperative blood loss, reticulocyte levels and treatment-related complications were studied.

RESULTS

A total of 102 patients were included (35, 35 and 32 patients in Groups A, B and C, respectively). Total blood loss (TBL) in Groups A, B and C was 490.84, 806.76 and 924.21 ml, respectively. Patients in Group A had a significant lower TBL than Groups B and C (A vs. B: P = 0.010; A vs. C: P < 0.001). There was no difference as for TBL between Groups B and C (P = 0.377). Group A patients had significant smaller Hb decline than Group C on the third and fifth postoperative day (P = 0.049, P = 0.037), as well as than Group B on the fifth postoperative day (P = 0.048). There was no difference as for Hb decline between Groups B and C. No difference was shown in levels of inflammatory biomarkers or blood-saving protocol-related complications among three groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Daily dose of rhEPO combined with iron supplement administered 3 days before TKA procedures could significantly decrease perioperative blood loss and improve postoperative Hb levels, without significantly elevating risks of complication, when compared with admission of rhEPO on the day of surgery and iron supplement alone. Preoperative daily rhEPO treatment could be a more effective blood-saving protocol in TKA procedures.

Comparison of two recombinant erythropoietin formulations in patients with anemia due to end-stage renal disease on hemodialysis: a parallel, randomized, double blind study

Background

Recombinant human erythropoietin (EPO) is used for the treatment of last stage renal anemia. A new EPO preparation was obtained in Cuba in order to make this treatment fully nationally available. The aim of this study was to compare the pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic and safety properties of two recombinant EPO formulations in patients with anemia due to end-stage renal disease on hemodialysis.

Methods

A parallel, randomized, double blind study was performed. A single 100 IU/Kg EPO dose was administered subcutaneously. Heberitro (Heber Biotec, Havana, formulation A), a newly developed product and Eprex (CILAG AG, Switzerland, formulation B), as reference treatment were compared. Thirty-four patients with anemia due to end-stage renal disease on hemodialysis were included. Patients had not received EPO previously. Serum EPO level was measured by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) during 120 hours after administration. Clinical and laboratory variables were determined as pharmacodynamic and safety criteria until 216 hours.

Results

Both groups of patients were similar regarding all demographic and baseline characteristics. EPO kinetics profiles were similar for both formulations; the pharmacokinetic parameters were very close (i.e., AUC: 4667 vs. 4918 mIU.h/mL; Cmax: 119.1 vs. 119.7 mIU/mL; Tmax: 13.9 vs. 18.1 h; half-life, 20.0 vs. 22.5 h for formulations A and B, respectively). The 90% confidence intervals for the ratio between both products regarding these metrics were close to the 0.8 – 1.25 range, considered necessary for bioequivalence. Differences did not reach 20% in any case and were not determined by a formulation effect, but probably by a patients' variability effect. Concerning pharmacodynamic features, a high similitude in reticulocyte counts increments until 216 hours and the percentage decrease in serum iron until 120 hours was observed. There were no differences between formulations regarding the adverse events and their intensity. The more frequent events were pain at injection site (35.3%) and hypertension (29%). Additionally, further treatment of the patients with the study product yielded satisfactory increases in hemoglobin and hematocrit values.

Conclusion

The formulations are comparable. The newly developed product should be acceptable for long-term application.