#2352 Short-term effect of roxadustat combined with ESA treatment for anemia in patients undergoing hemodialysis with ESA hyporesponsiveness

Abstract

Abstract Background and Aims The efficacy of roxadustat combined with erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA) on renal anemia in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients is rarely reported, especially for those with ESA hyporesponsiveness. Our study aimed to observe the short-term efficacy of roxadustat combined with ESA for those patients when they were first treated with roxadustat converted from ESA. Method Retrospective data pertaining to MHD patients with ESA hyporesponsiveness from September 2019 to June 2022 were collected. All patients had been on ESA for more than 6 months and were first treated with roxadustat. 19 patients treated with roxadustat combined with ESA and 19 patients treated with roxadustat alone were paired for analysis from 108 patients by propensity score matching. Parameters related to anemia, iron metabolism and adverse events were recorded. Results The haemoglobin (Hb) level was significantly improved in patients treated with roxadustat combined with ESA after 1 month (7.8 ± 1.54 g/dL vs 8.96 ± 1.38 g/dL, p = 0.003), which was not found in patients treated with roxadustat alone (8.2 ± 1.28 g/dL vs 8.35 ± 1.54 g/dL, p = 0.652). Patients treated with roxadustat combined with ESA had a higher Hb response rate (47.4%) than those treated with roxadustat alone (15.8%) during the first month (p = 0.036). In addition, the level of serum iron was increased, and serum ferritin (SF) was decreased in both groups. Conclusion Roxadustat combined with ESA treatment might be more beneficial for improving renal anemia in MHD patients with ESA hyporesponsiveness during the first month of roxadustat therapy replacement.