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Dosing regimen and tolerability of methoxy polyethylene glycol–epoetin beta in C hinese dialysis patients
Author(s) -
Choy Bo Ying,
Lam Man Fai,
Yip Terence,
Tang Hon Lok,
Wong Ping Nam,
Chow Chik Cheung Vincent,
Yap Desmond YH,
Chan Tak Mao
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
nephrology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 61
eISSN - 1440-1797
pISSN - 1320-5358
DOI - 10.1111/nep.12105
Subject(s) - medicine , tolerability , dosing , regimen , dialysis , gastroenterology , surgery , polyethylene glycol , urology , adverse effect , chemical engineering , engineering
Aim To investigate methoxy polyethylene glycol‐epoetin beta dosing regimen in treatment naïve subjects and dose conversion in darbepoetin alpha treated subjects, in C hinese dialysis patients. Methods Adult C hinese patients on peritoneal dialysis ( PD ) or haemodialysis ( HD ), with no prior treatment with erythropoiesis‐stimulating agents and haemoglobin below 8 g/d L ( G roup I ) or receiving darbepoetin alpha and had stable haemoglobin at 10–12 g/d L ( G roup II ) were included in this prospective open‐label study. In G roup I methoxy polyethylene glycol‐epoetin beta was started at 0.6 μg/kg subcutaneously fortnightly till haemoglobin reached 10 g/d L , after which it was given monthly. A dose conversion table was devised for G roup II . Follow‐up was 36 weeks. Results Forty‐five patients were included. Haemoglobin in G roup I ( n = 23, PD / HD :19/4) increased from 7.5 ± 0.9 g/d L at baseline to 10.7 ± 1.0 g/d L after 16 weeks, while it remained stable at 10.4 ± 1.0 g/d L after conversion in G roup II ( n = 22, PD / HD :15/7). Actual dose required after stabilization was 1.7 μg/kg per month in G roup I and 2.3 μg/kg per month in G roup II . Median number of dose adjustment was three in G roup I and one in G roup II , while haemoglobin overshoot to 13 g/d L or above occurred in 4.4% and 9.1%, respectively. No significant side‐effect was observed. Conclusions Our dosing regimen for methoxy polyethylene glycol‐epoetin beta, for treatment naïve subjects or for conversion from darbepoetin alpha, is safe and effective. The dose required to achieve a haemoglobin concentration of 10–11 g/d L in C hinese dialysis patients is approximately 2 μg/kg monthly.