The Efficacy of Once Weekly Compared with Two or Three Times Weekly Subcutaneous Epoetin Alfa (Espogen(R))

Lee, Young Ki; Lee, Hyung Seok; Joo, Min Ha; Kim, Seong Gyun; Seo, Jang Won; Oh, Ji Eun; Yoon, Jong Woo; Koo, Ja Ryong; Kim, Hyung Jik; Noh, Jung Woo

Abstract

PURPOSE: Compared with the practice of administrating subcutaneous erythropoietin injection two or three times a week in end-stage renal failure, a weekly administration reduces the frequency of injection and the workload in renal units. We investigated whether subcutaneous epoetin alfa administered weekly was as effective as the same weekly dosage given in two or three divided doses.
METHODS
Eighty-three patients were randomized to treatment with subcutaneous epoetin alfa either once a week (n=44), or to their original dosage two or three times a week (control, n=39) for 12 weeks. If hemoglobin was out of range (9.0-12.0 g/dL), the dosage was changed.
RESULTS
Mean hemoglobin levels at randomization and after 4, 8 and 12 weeks were 10.7, 11.1, 11.3 and 11.0 g/dL, respectively, in the once weekly group compared with 10.5, 11.3, 11.5 and 11.3 g/dL, respectively, in the control group. The mean weekly epoetin alfa dosage at randomization and after 4, 8 and 12 weeks were 142.8, 123.0, 116.7 and 112.3 IU/kg, respectively, in the once-a-week group compared with 128.4, 119.3, 103.5 and 101.2 IU/kg, respectively, in the control group. No statistically significant differences between the groups were apparent in changes in hemoglobin levels or epoetin alfa dosages at week 12. There was no significant difference between the groups in number of patients who maintained stable hemoglobin levels without epoetin alfa dose increases.
CONCLUSION
This study demonstrates that a weekly subcutaneous administration of epoetin alfa is as effective and safe as injecting it two or three times a week administration in maintaining hemoglobin levels in stable hemodialysis patients.