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Darbepoetin alpha for the treatment of anaemia in low‐intermediate risk myelodysplastic syndromes
Author(s) -
Musto Pellegrino,
Lanza Francesco,
Balleari Enrico,
Grossi Alberto,
Falcone Antonietta,
Sanpaolo Grazia,
Bodenizza Carlo,
Scalzulli Potito Rosario,
Sala Antonio La,
Campioni Diana,
Ghio Riccardo,
Cascavilla Nicola,
Carella Angelo Michele
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
british journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.907
H-Index - 186
eISSN - 1365-2141
pISSN - 0007-1048
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2141.2004.05288.x
Subject(s) - medicine , myelodysplastic syndromes , international prognostic scoring system , darbepoetin alfa , erythropoiesis , erythropoietin , multivariate analysis , bone marrow , ineffective erythropoiesis , anemia , alpha (finance) , gastroenterology , surgery , construct validity , patient satisfaction
Summary Thirty‐seven anaemic subjects with low‐to‐intermediate risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) received the highly glycosylated, long‐acting erythropoiesis‐stimulating molecule darbepoetin‐alpha (DPO) at the single, weekly dose of 150 μ g s.c. for at least 12 weeks. Fifteen patients (40·5%) achieved an erythroid response (13 major and two minor improvements, respectively, according to International Working Group criteria). Such results are currently maintained after 7–22 months in 13 of the responders, one of whom required iron substitutive therapy during the treatment. One patient relapsed after 4 months. Another responder died after 5 months because of causes unrelated to the treatment. No relevant side‐effects were recorded. At multivariate analysis, significant predictive factors of response were baseline serum levels of endogenous erythropoietin <100 IU/l, absent or limited transfusional needs, no excess of blasts and hypoplastic bone marrow. This study suggests that DPO, at the dose and schedule used, can be safely given in low‐intermediate risk MDS and may be effective in a significant proportion of these patients.