Erythropoiesis Stimulating Agents for Anemia Management in Egyptian Hemodialysis Patients

Anemia, the most prevalent and dangerous complication of chronic kidney disease, is caused when the kidney is unable to produce enough erythropoietin to promote the creation of red blood cells (CKD). Anemia from CKD is linked to higher mortality, cardiovascular disease, exhaustion, dyspnea, and a lower quality of life for patients.

It has been demonstrated that using erythropoietin-stimulating drugs (ESAs) in treating renal anemia increases survival, lowers cardiovascular morbidity, and improves the quality of life.

Epoetin alfa (EPO), an ESA with a shorter half-life, and darbepoetin alfa (DPO), are the two ESAs used in hemodialysis centers the most frequently in Egypt (longer half life ) Epoetin alfa is dosed one to three times per week, whereas darbepoetin alfa is dosed once per week or every two weeks.

Compared to epoetins, darbepoetin alfa's extended dose interval may benefit patients and their medical professionals.

Despite the fact that ESAs save CKD patients from needing blood transfusions, clinical trials, meta-analyses, and mortality hazards with ESAs targeting high hemoglobin levels have been shown. A higher ESA dose may be linked to cardiovascular problems and all-cause mortality independent of hemoglobin level.

Darbepoetin alfa has a lower risk of side effects because it only requires 35% of the dosage of epoetin alfa to attain the same target hemoglobin level. Darbepoetin alfa also has an advantage over epoetin alfa in that it makes it easier for the body to mobilize iron into the bone marrow to cause successful erythropoiesis, which may shield the body from any potential negative effects from having too much iron stored there. Despite this, the medication that Egyptian hemodialysis centers use the most is (EPO). This study compares (DPO) and (EPO) to determine which should be utilized based on efficacy, safety, and cost.

Inclusion criteria

• Patients who have been stable and undergoing hemodialysis three times per week for at least three months
• Age must be 18 or older
• Patients who had been receiving a single form of ESA treatment for at least three months before the study's launch.

Exclusion criteria

• altered the type of ESA therapy; 2) underwent significant surgery; or (3) received RBC transfusions
• failed to adhere to dialysis therapy, as shown by missing more than two appointments each month.
• have COVID-19 infection.
• had cancer.
• underwent a kidney transplant
• were pregnant or nursing mothers
• were not followed up for the full six-month research period.