Once-Every-2-Weeks and Once-Weekly Epoetin Beta Regimens: Equivalency in Hemodialyzed Patients

• Published in: American journal of kidney diseases Vol. 48; no. 3; pp. 445 - 455
• Main Authors: Mircescu, Gabriel, Gârneață, Liliana, Ciocâlteu, Alexandru, Golea, Ovidiu, Gherman-Căprioară, Mirela, Capșa, Dimitrie, Moța, Eugen, Gusbeth-Tatomir, Paul, Ghenu, Adrian, Băluță, Simona, Constantinovici, Niculae, Covic, Adrian Constantin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Orlando, FL Elsevier Inc 01-09-2006; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Anemia - drug therapy; Anemia - etiology; Anesthesia. Intensive care medicine. Transfusions. Cell therapy and gene therapy; Biological and medical sciences; dosing frequency; Emergency and intensive care: renal failure. Dialysis management; Erythropoiesis-stimulating agent; Erythropoietin - administration & dosage; Erythropoietin - pharmacokinetics; Female; hemodialysis (HD); Humans; Intensive care medicine; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Nephrology. Urinary tract diseases; Prospective Studies; Recombinant Proteins; Renal Dialysis; Renal Insufficiency - therapy; therapeutic equivalence; Therapeutic Equivalency; Treatment Outcome; dosing frequency; therapeutic equivalence; Erythropoiesis-stimulating agent; hemodialysis (HD); Erythropoiesis; Human; Nephrology; Hemodialysis; Antianemia agent; Posology; Urology; Extrarenal dialysis; Treatment; Equivalence; Weekly; Hematopoiesis; Frequency; Epoetin beta
• ISSN: 0272-6386; 1523-6838
• DOI: 10.1053/j.ajkd.2006.05.030

Background:
Currently, less frequent than once-weekly subcutaneous epoetin administration regimens were shown to be equally effective and safe as once-weekly schedules in stable predialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients. Bioequivalency of once-every-2-weeks and once-weekly subcutaneous administration of the same total dose of epoetin beta for the maintenance phase of anemia treatment in stable iron-replete long-term hemodialysis patients therefore was investigated prospectively.
Methods:
Two hundred seven stable selected hemodialysis patients without diabetes, acute illness, significant inflammation, malnutrition or hyperparathyroidism administered once-weekly subcutaneous epoetin beta and preserving stable hemoglobin levels between 10 and 12 g/dL (100 and 120 g/L; difference between maximum and minimum of 3 subsequent levels ≤2.5 g/dL [≤25 g/L]) and optimal iron status for at least 8 weeks before inclusion were enrolled and randomly assigned to subcutaneous administration of the same total dose of epoetin beta either once every 2 weeks (group 2w; n = 104) or once weekly (group 1w; n = 103) for 24 weeks.
Results:
Per-protocol analyses (group 1w = 102 versus group 2w = 101) showed similar hemoglobin levels throughout the assessment period (weeks 13 to 24): mean, 11.38 g/dL; 95% confidence interval (CI), 11.23 to 11.54 versus 11.41 g/dL; 95% CI, 11.22 to 11.58. Mean difference was 0.028 g/dL (95% CI, −0.208 to 0.264) in the prespecified range (±0.5 g/dL). Epoetin dose ratio of group 2w to group 1w was 0.94 (95% CI, 0.813 to 1.076), also in the prespecified range of equivalence (0.80 to 1.25). Hemoglobin levels and epoetin doses were stable during the study irrespective of treatment schedule, with no differences between groups at any time. Both schedules were well tolerated.
Conclusion:
Once-every-2-weeks and once-weekly subcutaneous epoetin beta regimens are equivalent in the maintenance phase of anemia treatment in long-term stable hemodialysis patients without diabetes, with similar safety profiles.