BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: In hemodialysis patients, both hemoglobin variability and targeting normalization of hemoglobin may have adverse consequences. There are few data on epoetin management in patients achieving high hemoglobin levels. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS: Maintenance hemodialysis patients within Dialysis Clinic Inc. (DCI) who were treated with a 20 to 30% epoetin dose reduction versus epoetin discontinuation following achievement of a hemoglobin level of > or = 13 g/dl were evaluated. The primary outcome was nadir hemoglobin within 2 months of epoetin reduction or discontinuation. RESULTS: There were 2789 patients in whom epoetin was discontinued and 754 patients in whom epoetin was reduced after hemoglobin > or = 13 g/dl. Patients treated with reduction received significantly more epoetin over the subsequent 2 months. More patients dropped below 11 (21.5 versus 10.1%) and 10 g/dl (7.2 versus 3.6%) within 2 months of discontinuing epoetin, whereas reduction was associated with more frequent nadir hemoglobin levels >12 g/dl (31.1 versus 62.8%). In multivariable models including age, ferritin, albumin, and baseline epoetin dose, discontinuation was associated with nadir hemoglobin below 10 g/dl [OR = 1.91 (CI: 1.22, 2.99)], whereas reduction was associated with a hemoglobin nadir above 12 g/dl [OR = 4.41 (CI: 3.63, 5.37)]. CONCLUSIONS: In hemodialysis patients with baseline hemoglobin >13 g/dl, epoetin discontinuation is associated with lower epoetin use and a higher probability of reaching a hemoglobin target range of 10 to 12 g/dl within 2 months; discontinuation is also associated with a higher likelihood nadir hemoglobin <10 g/dl.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: In hemodialysis patients, both hemoglobin variability and targeting normalization of hemoglobin may have adverse consequences. There are few data on epoetin management in patients achieving high hemoglobin levels. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS: Maintenance hemodialysis patients within Dialysis Clinic Inc. (DCI) who were treated with a 20 to 30% epoetin dose reduction versus epoetin discontinuation following achievement of a hemoglobin level of > or = 13 g/dl were evaluated. The primary outcome was nadir hemoglobin within 2 months of epoetin reduction or discontinuation. RESULTS: There were 2789 patients in whom epoetin was discontinued and 754 patients in whom epoetin was reduced after hemoglobin > or = 13 g/dl. Patients treated with reduction received significantly more epoetin over the subsequent 2 months. More patients dropped below 11 (21.5 versus 10.1%) and 10 g/dl (7.2 versus 3.6%) within 2 months of discontinuing epoetin, whereas reduction was associated with more frequent nadir hemoglobin levels >12 g/dl (31.1 versus 62.8%). In multivariable models including age, ferritin, albumin, and baseline epoetin dose, discontinuation was associated with nadir hemoglobin below 10 g/dl [OR = 1.91 (CI: 1.22, 2.99)], whereas reduction was associated with a hemoglobin nadir above 12 g/dl [OR = 4.41 (CI: 3.63, 5.37)]. CONCLUSIONS: In hemodialysis patients with baseline hemoglobin >13 g/dl, epoetin discontinuation is associated with lower epoetin use and a higher probability of reaching a hemoglobin target range of 10 to 12 g/dl within 2 months; discontinuation is also associated with a higher likelihood nadir hemoglobin <10 g/dl.
Authors: Jeffrey S Berns; Hafez Elzein; Robert I Lynn; Steven Fishbane; Ira S Meisels; Peter B Deoreo Journal: Kidney Int Date: 2003-10 Impact factor: 10.612
Authors: J W Eschbach; M H Abdulhadi; J K Browne; B G Delano; M R Downing; J C Egrie; R W Evans; E A Friedman; S E Graber; N R Haley Journal: Ann Intern Med Date: 1989-12-15 Impact factor: 25.391
Authors: I C Macdougall; N P Lewis; M J Saunders; D L Cochlin; M E Davies; R D Hutton; K A Fox; G A Coles; J D Williams Journal: Lancet Date: 1990-03-03 Impact factor: 79.321