Study of the Efficacy and Safety of Darbepoetin Alfa versus Epoetin Alfa in the Treatment of Anemia in Pediatric Patients on Regular Hemodialysis

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Abstract Background Anemia is a common comorbidity in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). That affects the vast majority and can have a significant impact on patient morbidity and mortality. Erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) are the main lines in management of anemia in hemodialysis patients. Replacement therapy with recombinant human erythropoietin (r- HuEPO) has provided an effective treatment for patients with renal “Epoetin alfa” is a recombinant erythropoietin with the same amino acid sequence as human erythropoietin (EPO). In comparison to epoetin alfa, darbepoetin alfa (DPO) contains an increased amount of sialic acid-containing carbohydrate chains. It shows a much longer elimination half-life than epoetin alfa, with prolonged erythropoietic effect. Aim of the Work to evaluate whether darbpoetin and epopoetin alpha can be used interchangeably on the same patient, achieving the same desired effect and to detect any difference in the occurrence of side effects between both ESAs. Patient and Methods This was a crossover study that took place in the Pediatrics Dialysis unit, Children’s Hospital, Ain Shams University. The study was conducted on 40 children with end stage renal disease on regular hemodialysis over a period of 6 months. The patients were randomly put into two groups A and B, each group contained 20 patients. Each group received one type of ESA either ( darbpoetin alpha or epopoetin alpha )for 3 months and then shifted to the other type of ESA for another 3 months. The dosage of epoetin alfa used was (200 IU/kg/week) and a conversion rate of EPO: DPO, 300:1. A period of 6 weeks was agreed as a washout period after the first drug given in both groups in which no results were recorded but ESA was not stopped due to its essentiality. Blood tests (hemoglobin (Hb), serum urea, serum creatinine and iron profile; (S. iron, S. ferritin, TIBC, and transferrin saturation)) were withdrawn at the start and the end of the 3 months’ period of each drug. Results We found no difference on the Hb level with both drugs. The interchange between them did not yield any significant drop in the Hb levels. Hb target in both EPO and DPO was reached in 22.5% of total cases, and was not reached in 62.5%. This proved that both drugs give the same effect with nearly negligible difference. No serious Sside effect as convulsions, hypertension, and thrombosis were noticed in both groups. Conclusion The target Hb was not reached in most patients of both groups of ESRD on regular hemodialysis at the unit and none of both drugs showed superior results or less side effects than the other.