Stability of target hemoglobin levels during the first year of epoetin treatment in patients with chronic kidney disease

Predictors of Hyporesponsiveness to Erythropoiesis-Stimulating Agents in Patients with Non-Dialysis-Dependent Chronic Kidney Disease (RADIANCE-CKD Study)

INTRODUCTION

Hyporesponsiveness to erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) has been associated with increased mortality and cardiovascular events in patients with chronic kidney disease. We hypothesized that the prediction of ESA resistance during ESA administration would be very useful in deciding on a treatment plan.

METHODS

Patients enrolled in a randomized controlled trial to evaluate renal prognosis in anemic patients with non-dialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease with hyporesponsiveness to ESA were included; the patients had different target hemoglobin levels. A landmark analysis was performed at 3 months into the study. To construct a predictive model for the severe ESA hypo-responder group, in which there was no increase in hemoglobin even with active treatment, background factors and serum test items that affect anemia at study entry were included in a logistic regression model, the area under the curve (AUC) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated, and sensitivity and specificity were calculated. This study was a post hoc sub-analysis of a randomized controlled trial.

RESULTS

The AUC for the 19 existing risk factors as predictors was 0.783 (95% CI: 0.711-0.855). Among the 19 risk factors, the combination of six factors (hemoglobin level, systolic blood pressure, weight, gender, smoking status, and hypertensive retinopathy) with the largest χ2 statistics were selected by multiple logistics regression. The AUC for these 6 predictors was 0.716 (95% CI: 0.634-0.799). To the six existing risk factors, five serum test items that affect anemia (vitamin B12, vitamin B6, folic acid, parathyroid hormone, and 25-hydroxyvitamin D) were added, for a total of 11 risk factors, with a similar AUC of 0.736 (95% CI: 0.655-0.817), sufficient to predict ESA resistance.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that existing risk factors and serum test items can be used to predict ESA resistance in patients with non-dialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease on ESA.

Hyporesponsiveness to erythropoiesis-stimulating agent in non-dialysis-dependent CKD patients: The BRIGHTEN study

Among non-dialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease (ND-CKD) patients, a low hematopoietic response to erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) is a predictor for poor renal and cardiovascular outcome. To assess the method for evaluating hyporesponsiveness to ESA in patients with ND-CKD, a multicenter, prospective, observational study of 1,980 adult patients with ND-CKD with renal anemia was conducted. Darbepoetin alfa (DA) and iron supplement administrations were provided according to the recommendation of the attached document and the guidelines of JSDT (Japanese Society of Dialysis and Transplantation). The primary outcomes were progression of renal dysfunction and major adverse cardiovascular events. ESA responsiveness was assessed using pre-defined candidate formulae. During the mean follow-up period of 96 weeks, renal and cardiovascular disease (CVD) events occurred in 683 (39.6%) and 174 (10.1%) of 1,724 patients, respectively. Among pre-set candidate formulae, the one expressed by dividing the dose of DA by Hb level at the 12-week DA treatment was statistically significant in predicting renal (hazard ratio [HR], 1.449; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.231-1.705; P<0.0001) and CVD events (HR, 1.719; 95% CI, 1.239-2.386; P = 0.0010). The optimum cut-off values for both events were close to 5.2. In conclusion, hyporesponsiveness to ESA in ND-CKD cases, which is associated with a risk for renal and CVD events, may be evaluated practicably as the dose of DA divided by the Hb level at the 12-week DA treatment, and the cut-off value of this index is 5.2. A search for the causes of poor response and measures for them should be recommended in such patients. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials. gov Identifier: NCT02136563; UMIN Clinical Trial Registry Identifier: UMIN000013464.

Types of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents and risk of end-stage kidney disease and death in patients with non-dialysis chronic kidney disease

BACKGROUND

Despite the widespread use of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) to treat anaemia, the risk of adverse outcomes associated with the use of different types of ESAs in non-dialysis chronic kidney disease (CKD) is poorly investigated.

METHODS

From a pooled cohort of four observational studies, we selected CKD patients receiving short-acting (epoetin α/β; n = 299) or long-acting ESAs (darbepoetin and methoxy polyethylene glycol-epoetin β; n = 403). The primary composite endpoint was end-stage kidney disease (ESKD; dialysis or transplantation) or all-cause death. Multivariable Cox models were used to estimate the relative risk of the primary endpoint between short- and long-acting ESA users.

RESULTS

During follow-up [median 3.6 years (interquartile range 2.1-6.3)], the primary endpoint was registered in 401 patients [166 (72%) in the short-acting ESA group and 235 (58%) in the long-acting ESA group]. In the highest tertile of short-acting ESA dose, the adjusted risk of primary endpoint was 2-fold higher {hazard ratio [HR] 2.07 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.37-3.12]} than in the lowest tertile, whereas it did not change across tertiles of dose for long-acting ESA patients. Furthermore, the comparison of ESA type in each tertile of ESA dose disclosed a significant difference only in the highest tertile, where the risk of the primary endpoint was significantly higher in patients receiving short-acting ESAs [HR 1.56 (95% CI 1.09-2.24); P = 0.016]. Results were confirmed when ESA dose was analysed as continuous variable with a significant difference in the primary endpoint between short- and long-acting ESAs for doses >105 IU/kg/week.

CONCLUSIONS

Among non-dialysis CKD patients, the use of a short-acting ESA may be associated with an increased risk of ESKD or death versus long-acting ESAs when higher ESA doses are prescribed.

Initial responsiveness to darbepoetin alfa and its contributing factors in non-dialysis chronic kidney disease patients in Japan

BACKGROUND

Hyporesponsiveness to erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) is associated with cardiovascular events and poor renal outcome in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). This study aimed to investigate the initial responsiveness to darbepoetin alfa (DA) and its contributing factors using the data from the BRIGHTEN.

METHODS

Of 1980 patients enrolled at 168 facilities, 1695 were included in this analysis [285 patients were excluded mainly due to lack of hemoglobin (Hb) values]. The initial ESA response index (iEResI) was defined as a ratio of Hb changes over 12 weeks after DA administration per weight-adjusted total DA dose and contributing factors to iEResI were analyzed.

RESULTS

The mean age was 70 ± 12 years (male 58.8%; diabetic nephropathy 27.6%). The median creatinine and mean Hb levels at DA initiation were 2.62 mg/dL and 9.8 g/dL, respectively. The most frequent number of DA administration during 12 weeks was 3 times (41.1%), followed by 4 (15.6%) times with a wide distribution of the total DA dose (15-900 μg). Remarkably, 225 patients (13.3%) did not respond to DA. Multivariate analysis showed that male gender, hypoglycemic agent use, iron supplementation, high eGFR, low Hb, low CRP, low NT-proBNP, and low urinary protein-creatinine ratio were independently associated with better initial response to DA (P =  < 0.0001, 0.0108, < 0.0001, 0.0476, < 0.0001, 0.0004, 0.0435, and 0.0009, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Non-responder to DA accounted for 13.3% of patients with non-dialysis CKD. Iron supplementation, low CRP, low NT-proBNP, and less proteinuria were predictive and modifiable factors associated with better initial response to DA.

Definition and Validation of a Novel Metric of Erythropoiesis-Stimulating Agent Response in Hemodialysis Patients

Erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (eg, epoetin alfa) are the primary treatment for anemia in patients with end-stage renal disease. Hemoglobin variability in and out of a narrow target range is common and associated with higher morbidity and mortality risk. More robust erythropoiesis-stimulating agent response metrics are needed to define optimal dosing and their association with clinical outcomes. In this cross-sectional, single-center, retrospective study, 49 patients with end-stage renal disease on hemodialysis were followed over 12 months. To quantify hemoglobin deviations outside the target range (10-12 g/dL), the area under the curve of hemoglobin versus time over a 12-month period (AUC-HGB) was calculated using the trapezoidal rule. Patients were categorized into 4 responder groups based on AUC-HGB quartiles. Comparative analyses of demographic and clinical characteristics between responder groups were performed. Correlations between AUC-HGB, erythropoietin resistance index, and time within therapeutic range were calculated. There were no significant differences in laboratory and dialysis parameters between responder groups except hemoglobin concentration and epoetin alfa dose. There was a negative correlation between AUC-HGB and time within therapeutic range (r = -.92; P < .001) and hemoglobin concentration (r = -.85; P < .01), indicating internal validity of the metric. There was a positive correlation between AUC-HGB and erythropoietin resistance index (r = .70; P < .001) indicating external validity. The poor response group received a higher median epoetin alfa dose (160 U/kg/week) compared to the excellent response group (68.8 U/kg/week; P < .001) with a similar number of dose changes between the groups. AUC-HGB is a valid marker of epoetin alfa response and should be considered in future analyses of larger populations.

Effect of achieved hemoglobin level on renal outcome in non-dialysis chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients receiving epoetin beta pegol: MIRcerA CLinical Evidence on Renal Survival in CKD patients with renal anemia (MIRACLE-CKD Study)

Background

Previous randomized-controlled trials have shown that targeting higher hemoglobin (Hb) levels using high dose of ESA in non-dialysis chronic kidney disease (NDCKD) patients resulted in poorer cardiovascular outcome; however, it remains unknown how high Hb levels achieved by ESA in clinical practice dose could affect renal outcome.

Methods

In a multicenter prospective observational study, Japanese NDCKD patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of ≥ 6 mL/min/1.73 m² and renal anemia (Hb < 11 g/dL) treated with epoetin beta pegol (C.E.R.A.) for the first time were divided into two groups by Hb level (< 11 g/dL or ≥ 11 g/dL) in Week 12 of C.E.R.A. treatment (Week 12 Hb). Renal outcome was defined as time until the first occurrence of one of the following: progression to renal replacement therapy, serum creatinine doubling, or eGFR falling below 6 mL/min/1.73 m². The effect of Week 12 Hb on the onset of renal events was assessed by the Kaplan–Meier and multivariate Cox regression analyses.

Results

In the landmark analysis which included 2851 patients, Kaplan–Meier renal survival rate was 37.57% in the < 11 g/dL group and was significantly higher (51.47%) in the ≥ 11 g/dL group (P < 0.0001). Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed significantly higher risk of renal events in the < 11 g/dL group than in the ≥ 11 g/dL group (hazard ratio: 1.26; 95% confidence interval: 1.05–1.51; P = 0.0103).

Conclusions

The results suggest that week 12 Hb levels ≥ 11 g/dL achieved with C.E.R.A. treatment were associated with better renal outcomes than Hb levels < 11 g/dL.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1007/s10157-018-1649-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The anaemia control model: Does it help nephrologists in therapeutic decision-making in the management of anaemia?

INTRODUCTION

Anaemia is common in haemodialysis patients and treating it with erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) is complex due to many factors.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the usefulness of the Anaemia Control Model (ACM) in the treatment of anaemia in haemodialysis.

METHODS

ACM is a software that predicts the optimal dose of darbepoetin and iron sucrose to achieve target haemoglobin (Hb) and ferritin levels, and makes prescription suggestions. Study conducted in dialysis clinics lasting 18months with two intervention phases (IPs) with ACM (IP1, n:213; IP2, n:218) separated by a control phase (CP, n:219). The primary outcome was the percentage of Hb in range and the median dose of ESAs, and the secondary outcomes were transfusion, hospitalisation and cardiovascular events. Clinical and patient analyses were performed. Hb variability was assessed by the standard deviation (SD) of the Hb. We also analysed the patients with most of the suggestions confirmed (ACM compliant group).

RESULTS

ACM increased the percentage of Hb in range: 80.9% in IP2, compared with 72.7% in the CP and reduced the intake of darbepoetin (IP1: 20 [70]; CP 30 [80] μg P=0.032) with less Hb fluctuation (0.91±0.49 in the CP to 0.82±0.37g/dl in IP2, P<0.05), improving in the ACM compliant group. The secondary outcomes decreased with the use of ACM.

CONCLUSIONS

ACM helps to obtain better anaemia results in haemodialysis patients, minimising the risks of treatment with ESAs and reducing costs.

Relationship between anaemia management at haemodialysis initiation and patient prognosis

AIM

It has been suggested that anaemia management during a transition period to haemodialysis could influence prognosis. In this paper, we have conducted a retrospective investigation on how Hb levels at haemodialysis initiation in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) influence the risk of cerebral infarction and cardiovascular events.

METHODS

Seventy-two patients who underwent initial haemodialysis between May 2012 and April 2014 were designated as subjects of the study and the patients were divided into a cohort with Hb levels ≥8 g/dL and a cohort with <8 g/dL at haemodialysis initiation. The occurrence of cardiovascular events was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazards model.

RESULTS

The cohort with <8 g/dL Hb levels at haemodialysis initiation demonstrated a tendency toward low dosage of ESA or iron preparation in the pre-haemodialysis (maintenance) phase. Significant incidence of cardiovascular (log rank, P = 0.002) and cerebrovascular (log rank, P = 0.02) events was observed. The results of multivariate analysis of the Cox proportional hazards model indicated that anaemia with <8 g/dL Hb levels at haemodialysis initiation was a significant risk factor for coronary artery (hazard ratio = 12.85, P = 0.003) and cerebrovascular (hazard ratio = 5.11, P = 0.04) diseases post-haemodialysis.

CONCLUSION

The results of this investigation indicate the possible involvement of low Hb levels at haemodialysis initiation as a factor in cardio- and cerebrovascular events. There, our results suggested that the administration of adequate dosage of iron preparations and ESA in the pre-haemodialysis period could help prevent cardio- and cerebrovascular events.

Clinical management of nondialysis patients with chronic kidney disease: a retrospective observational study. Data from the SONDA study (Survey Of Non-Dialysis outpAtients)

Background

A lack of awareness of chronic kidney disease (CKD) often results in delayed diagnosis and inadequate treatment.

Purpose

The objective of this study was to assess the therapeutic management and outcome of nondialysis CKD patients.

Methods

Three hundred ninety-seven patients (54.9% males aged 67.5 ± 14.6 years) were retrospectively screened at the Nephrology Department, GB Grassi Hospital, Rome, Italy. After a baseline visit, patient data were collected every 6 months for a total of 24 months. Clinical characteristics were measured at baseline, then the following outcomes were measured every 6 months: staging of CKD, presence of concomitant diseases, treatment and adherence to Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (K/DOQI) guidelines for anemia management.

Results

Three hundred sixty-eight (92.7%) patients attended at least one visit and 92 (23.2%) patients attended all four visits. Patients were mainly referred to a nephrologist for chronic renal failure (61.7%) or hypertension (42.8%). At baseline, 79.6% of patients had previous hospitalization and 79.1% were receiving antihypertensive medication. Serum creatinine and/or glomerular filtration rate was examined in >90% of patients, whereas parathyroid hormone was rarely examined (5.5%). Vitamin D supplementation was received by 6.5% of patients. The majority of patients were staged at 3 or 4 CKD (32% and 23.9%, respectively) and did not significantly change over time. The use of antithrombotic, antilipidemic and erythropoietin medication increased over the four surveys. The majority of patients (86.8%) achieved hemoglobin K/DOQI target levels.

Conclusion

These findings demonstrate a current lack of attention of CKD and related disorders (mineral metabolism, electrolyte balance, and anemia) at the level of the general practitioner (GP) and non-nephrology specialist, which can result in both delayed referral and inadequate treatment. By increasing both awareness of CKD and the coordinated relationship between GPs and nephrologists, patient clinical and therapeutic outcome may be improved.

Impact of pharmacist-managed erythropoiesis-stimulating agents clinics for patients with non-dialysis-dependent CKD

BACKGROUND

Erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) are associated with serious adverse events, and maintaining hemoglobin levels within a narrow range can be difficult. We examined the quality of ESA prescribing and monitoring in pharmacist-managed ESA clinics versus usual care in patients with non-dialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease (NDD-CKD).

STUDY DESIGN

Historical cohort.

SETTING & PARTICIPANTS

Outpatients receiving ESAs for NDD-CKD at 10 Veterans Affairs Medical Centers with both pharmacist-managed ESA clinics (n = 314) and physician-based care (ie, usual care; n = 91) and 6 sites with usual care only (n = 167) on January 1, 2009, were followed up for 6 months.

PREDICTOR

Type/site of care (ie, pharmacist-managed ESA clinic, usual care at ESA clinic site, usual-care site).

OUTCOMES

Primary outcomes were proportion of hemoglobin values in the target range of 10-12 g/dL, ESA dose, and frequency of hemoglobin monitoring. Factors associated with hemoglobin values out of target range were identified using multinomial logistic regression.

RESULTS

More hemoglobin values were in the target range in pharmacist-managed ESA clinics (71.1% vs 56.9% for usual-care sites; P < 0.001). The average 30-day dose of darbepoetin was 163 μg in pharmacist-managed ESA clinic patients versus 240 μg in usual-care site patients and 258 μg in usual-care patients at ESA clinic sites. For epoetin, corresponding average 30-day doses were 44,890 versus 47,141 and 57,436 IU. Veterans in pharmacist-managed ESA clinics had more hemoglobin measurements on average (5.8 vs 3.6 in usual-care sites and 3.8 in usual care at ESA clinic sites; P = 0.007). In the multinomial model, usual care was associated with hemoglobin levels out of target range, whereas heart failure and diabetes were associated with values in range.

LIMITATIONS

We could not assess whether different hemoglobin targets were used by usual-care providers.

CONCLUSIONS

Relative to usual care, pharmacist-managed clinics provided improved quality of ESA dosing and monitoring for patients with NDD-CKD.

Hyporesponsiveness to erythropoiesis-stimulating agents and renal survival in non-dialysis CKD patients

BACKGROUND

Lower responsiveness to erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESA-R) predicts cardiovascular (CV) events. Whether ESA-R also affects the risk of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is unknown.

METHODS

We evaluated ESA-R in 194 consecutive chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, regularly seen in outpatient nephrology clinics, who started erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA) therapy between 2002-06. Exclusion criteria were causes of anaemia other than CKD or recent transfusion. ESA-R was calculated as (Hb1-Hb0)/time/ESA dose (g/dL/month/10 μg/week of ESA). Patients were classified, from lower to higher tertile of ESA-R, as poor, intermediate and good responders. Time to ESRD was the primary outcome.

RESULTS

Age was 64±16 years, 48% were male, 34% had diabetes and 32% had CV disease, glomerular filtration rate (GFR) 24±13 mL/min/1.73 m2 and proteinuria 0.6 g/dL (interquartile range 0.2-1.9). First ESA dose was 23.7±10.8 μg/week; haemoglobin (Hb) increased from 9.9±0.8 g/dL to 11.0±1.2 g/dL at first control, obtained after 1.4±0.4 months. These changes corresponded to an ESA-R of 0.37±0.38 g/dL/month/10 μg/week of ESA and tertiles limits were 0.17 and 0.47. Poor responders were younger and had lower GFR and higher proteinuria than intermediate and good responders. During the first 6 months of ESA therapy, poor responders showed lower Hb levels and sustained longer periods of Hb level<11 g/dL. During follow-up (median 3.0 years), 99 patients reached ESRD. At multivariable Cox's analysis, poor responsiveness was associated with higher risk of ESRD (hazard ratio 2.49, 95% confidence interval 1.28-4.84).

CONCLUSION

ESA-R predicts renal prognosis in CKD patients followed in nephrology practice, where ESRD is the predominant outcome and ESA is commonly used at low dose.

An observational cohort study of extended dosing (once every 2 weeks or once monthly) regimens with darbepoetin alfa in patients with chronic kidney disease not on dialysis: the EXTEND study

Background.

Darbepoetin alfa (DA) has been shown to be an effective treatment of anaemia in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) not on dialysis (NoD). EXTEND is an observational study assessing the effectiveness of DA administered once biweekly (Q2W) or monthly (QM) in a general CKD-NoD population.

Methods.

Adult CKD-NoD patients starting DA Q2W/QM treatment in June 2006 or later were eligible. Retrospective and/or prospective data including haemoglobin levels and erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA) dosing were collected for 6 months before and 12 months after DA initiation. Mean Hb levels were calculated every 3 months, and ESA dose was converted to a geometric mean weekly DA equivalent dose and summarized monthly.

Results.

Data from 4278 patients showed that patients receiving ESA treatment before DA Q2W/QM initiation had a mean (95% confidence interval) Hb level of 11.9 g/dL (11.8–12.0 g/dL) at initiation and 11.6 g/dL (11.6–11.7 g/dL) at Months 10–12, with mean ESA dose of 22 μg/week (21–23 μg/week) prior to initiation, 16 μg/week (15–16 μg/week) at initiation and 16 μg/week (15–16 μg/week) at Month 12. In ESA-naive patients, Hb levels increased from 10.3 g/dL (10.2–10.3 g/dL) at initiation to 11.7 g/dL at Months 4–6 and were maintained at a mean level of 11.7 g/dL (11.7–11.8 g/dL) at Months 10–12, with mean ESA dose of 16 μg/week (16–17 μg/week) at initiation and 16 μg/week (16–17 μg/week) at Month 12. In the 85% of patients receiving DA at extended intervals (Q2W or less frequently) at Month 12, 12 patients (0.3%) experienced DA-related adverse reactions.

Conclusion.

DA Q2W/QM was an effective treatment of anaemia in the general CKD-NoD patient population and a dose increase was not required in patients switching from a previous ESA regimen.

Iron treatment and the TREAT trial

Treatment with erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) enables the correction of anaemia in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, thus reducing its symptoms and complications. Not only is iron therapy aimed at correcting iron deficiency, but also it is an adjuvant therapy in CKD patients receiving ESAs. Iron stores in CKD patients may be near normal, but there may be insufficient immediately available iron to optimize ESA therapy. In this context, iron therapy significantly reduces ESA dose requirements. Erythropoiesis following ESA therapy may precipitate iron deficiency in association with increased platelet production. In the TREAT trial, the ‘placebo group’ did not receive a true ‘placebo’ since 46% of the patients had at least one dose of ESA and achieved progressively increased haemoglobin (Hb) values during follow-up against the common observation. The patients in the ‘placebo’ group were treated more frequently with intravenous iron than the darbepoetin group. Given that many patients were relatively iron deficient at baseline, iron administration was successful in many of them in obtaining and maintaining partial anaemia correction without the need for ESAs, thus underlining the great importance of iron supplementation in correcting anaemia. The upper safety limit for iron administered to patients in order to minimize, as much as possible, the ESA dose and the upper limit for ESA dosage for maintaining the target Hb range as suggested by the current guidelines are still open questions.

Individualizing anaemia therapy

Individualized strategies for managing renal anaemia with erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) need to be advanced. Recent outcomes from clinical studies prompted a narrowing of the guideline-recommended haemoglobin target (11-12 g/dL) due to increased mortality and morbidity when targeting higher haemoglobin concentrations. Maintaining a narrow target is a clinical challenge, as haemoglobin concentration tends to fluctuate. The goal of individualized treatment is to achieve the haemoglobin target at the lowest ESA dose while avoiding significant fluctuations in haemoglobin concentrations and persistently low or high concentrations. This may require changes to the ESA dose and dosing frequency over the course of treatment.

Maintaining over time clinical performance targets on anaemia correction in unselected population on chronic dialysis at 20 Italian centres. Data from a retrospective study for a clinical audit

BACKGROUND

The Italian and European Best Practice Guidelines (EBPG) recommend a target haemoglobin value greater than 11 g/dl in most patients with Chronic Kidney Diseases. However, it is still difficult to maintain these values at a steady rate. Thus, the main aim of the study was to evaluate, throughout 2005, how many patients steadily maintained the performance targets related to anaemia treatment.

METHODS

The survey was conducted on 3283 patients on haemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD) at 20 Italian dialysis centres. 540 patients were randomly selected; each centre provided a statistically significant sample proportional to its total number of patients. Maintenance of the following target levels was assessed over time: Haemoglobin (HB) 11-12 gr/dl; Iron: 60-160 mcg/dl; Ferritin: 30-400 mcg/l; Transferrin: 200-360 mg/dl; Transferrin saturation percentage (TSAT %):> 25 <50; Dialysis doses (KT/V): >1.2 <2.0 for non-diabetic HD patients; >1.5 <2.2 for diabetic HD patients; DP: >1.8 <2.5.Outcome included:1- Percentage of target maintenance for each parameter.2- Erythropoietin dose in relation to dialysis techniques, presence of cancer or myeloma, diabetic status, Vitamin B therapy.3- Erythropoietin dose (International Units/kg/week) (IU/kg/wk) depending on: haemoglobin values, hospitalization of more than 3 days.

RESULTS

Mean age was 65.1; mean haemoglobin concentration over the whole population was 11.3 gr/dl (Standard Deviation (SD): 0.91). The clinical performance targets were maintained over time as follows: HB: 4.3% (Mean 11.43 gr/dl) (SD: 0.42); Ferritin: 71.1% (Mean: 250.23 mcg/L (SD:104.07); Iron: 95.0% (Mean 59.79 mcg/dl)(SD:16.76); Transferrin: 44.8% (Mean 216.83 mg/dl) (SD: 19,50); TSAT %: in 8.4% (Mean: 34.33% (SD: 6.56); HD KT/V: 61.0% (Mean:1.46) (SD: 0.7); PD KT/V:31.4% (Mean: 2.10) (SD: 0.02). The average weekly dose of Erythropoietin (IU/Kg/Wk) was significantly lower for the peritoneal dialysis technique; the higher haemoglobin values, the lower the Erythropoietin dose (IU/Kg/Wk).

CONCLUSION

A very low percentage of patients maintained haemoglobin target values over time. We need to identify precise criteria to evaluate the stability over time of clinical performance targets proposed by the guidelines.

Maintenance of target hemoglobin level in stable hemodialysis patients constitutes a theoretical task: a historical prospective study

Maintenance of target hemoglobin (Hb) values in hemodialysis patients treated with erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) remains difficult. We examined Hb variability in the clinical setting in hemodialysis patients. Hemodialysis patients treated with ESAs who maintained the recommended Hb range of 11-13 g per 100 ml over 3 months and were not admitted to hospital, did not require transfusion, and did not experience any major clinical event during this period were followed prospectively for 1 year. Anemia events, Hb variation events (any value out of +/-1.5 g per 100 ml of the median Hb level in the total follow-up period for the individual patient), risk factors for anemia, and Hb variation events were assessed. We studied 420 patients (63% males, mean age 61 years), 222 received short-acting erythropoietin (EPO) and 198 long-acting darbepoetin. A total of 4654 blood samples (mean 11.1 per patient-year) were analyzed. Only 3.8% of patients were maintained within the target Hb levels (11-13 g per 100 ml) during 1 year. Hb variation events occurred in 20.8% of laboratory values and anemia events in 14.7%, with a median time to the first event of 3 months. Treatment with short-acting EPO (vs long-acting darbepoetin), change of ESA dose in the previous visit, resistance index, and hospitalization were significant risk factors for both anemia events and Hb variation events. Our results show that Hb values are rarely maintained within the recommended guidelines even in more stable hemodialysis patients. Hb variability is frequently associated with clinical events or ESA dose changes. Long-acting darbepoetin achieved better Hb stability than short-acting EPO.

Epoetin therapy and hemoglobin level variability in nondialysis patients with chronic kidney disease

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Intrapatient variability of hemoglobin (Hb) is a newly proposed determinant of adverse outcome in chronic kidney disease (CKD). We evaluated whether intensity of epoetin therapy affects Hb variability and renal survival in nondialysis CKD.

DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS

We calculated the individual therapeutic index (TI) for epoetin (EPO; difference between rates of visits that required EPO dosage change and those with effective EPO change) from 1198 visits during the first year of EPO in 137 patients. Renal death was registered in the subsequent 18.1 mo. Analysis was made by TI tertile (lower, middle, and higher; i.e., from more to less intensive therapy).

RESULTS

Main features and visit number were similar in tertiles. Lower Hb response to first EPO dosage was an independent predictor of higher TI (P = 0.002). The area under the curve for Hb (11.56 +/- 0.87, 11.46 +/- 1.20, and 10.95 +/- 1.48 g/dl per yr; P = 0.040) decreased from lower to higher tertile. Hb variability increased in parallel, as shown by the reduction of time with Hb at target (time in target, from 9.2 +/- 2.0 to 3.0 +/- 2.2 mo; P < 0.0001) and the wider values of within-patient Hb standard deviation (from 0.70 to 0.96; P = 0.005) and Hb fluctuations across target (P < 0.0001). In Cox analyses (hazard ratio [95% confidence interval]), risk for renal death was increased in the middle and higher tertiles (2.79 [1.36 to 5.73] and 2.94 [1.40 to 6.20]) and reduced by longer time in target (0.90 [0.83 to 0.98]).

CONCLUSIONS

Lack of adjustment of EPO worsens Hb variability in CKD. Hb variability may be associated with renal survival, but further studies are needed to explore the association versus causal relationship.

[Hemoglobin variability in chronic renal failure patients]

In recent years, the question of hemoglobin (Hb) stability in patients with chronic renal failure has attracted the interest of medical experts. One of the most important reasons behind this interest is that maintaining the hemoglobin level within the new narrower target range is highly challenging in clinical practice. According to the results available from observational trials, instability of inter-patient hemoglobin levels may be associated with increased morbidity and mortality. To clarify the questions and answers related to this topic and to prepare an updated summary, we reviewed the scientific literature. With the help of the PubMed portal, the incidence, clinical importance, and reasons of Hb variability were summarized according to the available scientific literature. Hb variability is affected by multiple factors which are connected to the general condition of the patient as well as medical interventions and treatments. Also the fluctuation of serum Hb level is a physiological process and is a healthy sign of the capability of the normal human body to adapt. The characteristics and extent of Hb variability vary in patients with chronic renal failure and this topic requires further clinical research. More precise studies are needed in order to explore the differences in possible Hb variability as well as the change in variability caused by particular treatment methods. Finally, based on the available data, the results of future research, and on board scientific consensus, in a strategy for treatment of renal anemia, we should take into account the questions related to Hb stability and variability.