Anemia response to methoxy polyethylene glycol-epoetin beta (mircera)‎ versus epoetin alfa (eprex)‎ in patients with chronic kidney disease on hemodialysis

Abstract EN

Objective: Anemia, a common complication of chronic kidney disease, usually develops because of erythropoietin deficiency.

Maintaining target hemoglobin (Hb) with minimal variability is a challenge in hemodialysis (HD) patients.

The aim of this study is to compare the long- and short-acting erythropoietin stimulating agents such as Mircera and Eprex in achieving these targets.

Methods: One hundred (100) patients on regular hemodialysis were complaining of anemia duo to chronic renal failure.

The mean age of those patients was 45.66 (17-70 years), divided into two groups: Group A patients (n=50) that received methoxy polyethylene glycol-epoetin beta (Mircera) once monthly, and group B (n=50) that received epoetin alfa (Eprex) 3 times per weeks for 6 months, with dose adjustment for individual haemoglobin target (11-12.5 g/dl); maximum decrease from baseline 1 g/dl.

Results: The response rate in the evaluation period was higher in patients treated with methoxy polyethylene glycol-epoetin beta (Mircera) than with epoetin (Eprex) alfa: 36 of 50 (72%) mean Hb concentration (10.51 g/dl) versus 29 of 50 (58%) mean Hb concentration (9.81), with statistically significant p-value <0.0001.

Conclusions: Treatment with (Mircera) administered intravenously once monthly was superior to treatment with (Eprex) administered subcutaneously three times weekly for maintaining haemoglobin concentrations in patients with chronic kidney disease on hemodialysis.