Management of anaemia associated with renal impairment in pre-dialysis and dialysis patients
DOSE IN NORMAL RENAL FUNCTION
ESA-naive patients: 0.6 mcg/kg every 2 weeks, changing by 25% according to response; once stable change to monthly dosingTarget haemoglobin usually 10–12 g/dL If previously on an ESA: 120–360 mcg monthly depending on previous ESA dose, and adjust according to response
%Excreted unchanged in urine     : Unlikely
Volume of distribution (L/kg)       :3–5.4 litres
half-life – normal/ESRD (hrs)      :IV: 134/UnchangedSC: 139 (142 if not on dialysis)/Unchanged
DOSE IN RENAL IMPAIRMENT
GFR (mL/MIN)
20 to 50     : Dose as in normal renal function
10 to 20     : Dose as in normal renal function
<10           : Dose as in normal renal function
DOSE IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING RENAL REPLACEMENT THERAPIES
CAPD                :Not dialysed. Dose as in normal renal function
HD                     :Not dialysed. Dose as in normal renal function
HDF/high flux   :Not dialysed. Dose as in normal renal function
CAV/VVHD      :Not dialysed. Dose as in normal renal function
IMPORTANT DRUG INTERACTIONS
Potentially hazardous interactions with other drugsRisk of hyperkalaemia with ACE inhibitors and angiotensin-II antagonists
ADMINISTRATION
Reconstition
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Route
SC, IV
Rate of Administration
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Comments
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OTHER INFORMATION
Pre-treatment checks and appropriate correction/ treatment needed for iron, folate and B12 deficiencies, infection, inflammation or aluminium toxicity to produce optimum response to therapyConcomitant iron therapy (200–300 mg elemental oral iron) needed daily. IV iron may be needed for patients with very low serum ferritin (<100 nanograms/mL)May increase heparin requirement during
HD                     :Reported association of pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) with epoetin therapy – very rare; due to failed production of red blood cell precursors in the bone marrow, resulting in profound anaemia. Possibly due to an immune response to the protein backbone of R-HuEPO. Resulting antibodies render the patient unresponsive to the therapeutic effects of all epoetins and darbepoetin.