[Effectiveness of subcutaneous and intravenous epoetin alpha in haemodialysed patients]

According to recommendations of exclusively intravenous administration of erythropoietin alpha (EPOalpha) produced in Europe (Eprex-Janssen-Cilag), we compared the effectiveness of EPOalpha during 6 months of the therapy after conversion from s.c. to i.v. route in 21 hemodialysed patients.

The inclusion criteria were as follows: stable blood morphology over the 3 months before conversion; haemoglobin concentration > 10.0 g/dl; transferrin saturation > 20% and serum ferritin > 200 microg/l. Dose of EPOalpha was verified every month in the course of the study, depending on actual haemoglobin concentration.

There were no significant differences in haemoglobin concentration and EPOalpha dose in all monitored time intervals. We didn't find any differences in transferrin saturation, serum albumin concentration and haemodialysis adequacy between starting values and results after 6 months of the therapy. Only values of CRP, serum ferritin concentration and iPTH were significantly higher after 6 months of i.v. EPOalpha therapy comparing to the initial data.

in hemodialysed patients with adequate iron stores and stable values of haemoglobin change of the route of EPOalpha administration from s.c. to i.v. is not connected with the increase of the dose of EPOalpha to maintain the haemoglobin values in the target range.