Article Text
Abstract
Background Erythropoietin stimulating agents (ESAs) are used to treat anaemia associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and anaemia in patients receiving chemotherapy.1,2
Purpose To analyse ESA treatment in patients with CKD and cancers.
Material and methods Retrospective longitudinal study of patients treated with ESAs from March 2013 to July 2014 in a University Hospital. Descriptive and clinical data were obtained from the records of outpatients who had picked up their medicines from the Hospital Pharmacy Service.
Descriptive statistical analyses were made of qualitative and quantitative data.
Results 51 patients were included: 38 with CKD and 13 with oncology disease.
CKD: 42.1% were men, mean age: 83.4 years old (SD 10.0). The average glomerular filtration rate was 23 ml/min/1.73 m2 (SD 13) and 56.8% of them had stage 4CKD. During this period 73% of patients presented mean haemoglobin values lower than 11 g/dl, 25% between 11 and 12 g/dl and only one patient had higher haemoglobin values than 12 g/dl. Average haemoglobin values of whole patients were 10.3 g/dl (SD 1.2) at the beginning and 10.5 g/dl (SD 1.3) at the end of the period studied.
Oncology diseases: 53.8% were men, mean age: 68.7 years old (SD 11.2). 69.2% were patients with chemotherapy-induced anaemia and 30.8% with myelodysplastic syndrome. Haemoglobin values at the beginning were 8.74 g/dl and at the end 9.47 g/dl. Blood transfusions were needed in 53.8% of the patients.
Conclusion In patients with CKD, haemoglobin levels remained stable during the period. Although the levels were lower than 11 g/dl in most patients, no significant clinical symptoms were observed.
The use of ESAs slightly improved the haemoglobin values in oncology patients, although blood transfusions were needed for half of the patients.
References
Hahn D, Cody JD, Hodson EM, et al. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2014;5:CD003895
Palmer SC, Saglimbene V, Craig JC, et al. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2014;3:CD009297
ReferencesNo conflict of interest.