Reversal of anemia by erythropoietin therapy retards the progression of chronic renal failure, especially in nondiabetic patients. Renal function during erythropoietin therapy for anemia in predialysis chronic renal failure patients. Double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the therapeutic use of recombinant human erythropoietin for anemia associated with chronic renal failure in predialysis patients. The US Recombinant Human Erythropoietin Predialysis Study Group. Treatment of the anemia of predialysis patients with recombinant human erythropoietin: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Recombinant human erythropoietin treatment in pre-dialysis patients. A double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Effects of recombinant human erythropoietin on renal function in chronic renal failure predialysis patients. Treatment of the anemia of progressive renal failure with recombinant human erythropoietin. Effect of erythropoietin treatment on physical exercise capacity and on renal function in predialytic uremic patients. The use of recombinant human erythropoietin in the correction of anemia in predialysis patients and its effect on renal function: a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
Therapy with human recombinant erythropoietin (EPO) has been accepted as effective for renal anemia in dialysis patients. However, studies in rats have shown that correcting anemia with EPO may affect the progression of renal dysfunction. In humans, however, the effect of EPO on residual renal function is a matter of controversy. We, therefore, investigated whether the long-term administration of EPO to predialysis patients influences residual renal function. Anemic patients at the predialysis stage with a serum creatinine (Cr) concentration ranging from 2 to 4 (average 2.9) mg/dl and a hematocrit (Ht) of less than 30% were randomly assigned to two groups which consisted of anemic patients not treated with EPO (group I, untreated anemic controls, n = 31) and anemic patients treated with EPO (group II, treated anemics, n = 42). Patients with nonsevere or moderate anemia (Ht > 30%) with a Cr ranging from 2 to 4 (average 2.6) mg/dl were also recruited as nonanemic controls (group III, untreated nonanemic controls, n = 35). Blood pressure was controlled to the same degree among the three groups by combined treatment with calcium antagonists and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. All patients were kept strictly on a low-protein (0.6 g/kg/day) and a low-salt (7 g/day) diet. The degree of control of dietary protein and blood pressure and the frequency of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor administration were comparable among the three groups. The primary end point for each patient was a doubling of the baseline Cr which yielded cumulative renal survival rates which were plotted against time. Ht rose significantly from 27.0+/-2.3 to 32.1+/-3.2% in group II (n = 42, p < 0.001) with a rate of increase of 0.4+/-0.06%/week. However, it declined from 27.9+/-1.8 to 25.3+/-1.9% in group I (n = 31, p < 0.001) and from 35.9+/-3.5 to 32.2+/-3.9% in group III (n = 35, p < 0.001). Cr doubled in 26 patients (84%) in group I as compared with 22 (52%) in group II and 21 (60%) in group III. The cumulative renal survival rates in groups II and III were significantly better than that in group I: p = 0.0003 (group I vs. group II) and p = 0.0024 (group I vs. group III). However, there was no difference in the renal survival rate between groups II and III (p = 0.3111). The better survival rate obtained in group II was attributable to the better survival rate for the nondiabetic patients in this group. The present study suggests that anemia, per se, is a factor in the progression of end-stage renal failure and that reversal of anemia by EPO can retard the progression of renal failure, especially in nondiabetic patients, provided that blood pressure control, rate of increase in Ht, and dietary protein restriction are appropriate. Recombinant human erythropoietin (r-HuEPO) therapy for anemia in chronic renal failure patients could have unfavorable renal effects since reversal of anemia can raise blood pressure and accelerate experimental glomerular injury. Thus, the effects of r-HuEPO on renal and systemic hemodynamics and the progression of renal disease were studied in predialysis chronic renal failure patients. The clearances of inulin and p-aminohippurate, fractional excretions of albumin and immunoglobulin G, cardiac output, plasma renin activity and aldosterone concentration were assessed at baseline, after short-term r-HuEPO (n = 4) or placebo (n = 4) therapy, and after long-term r-HuEPO for all patients (n = 8). In addition, the slope of l/serum creatinine with time was determined before and during continued r-HuEPO therapy. In contrast to placebo therapy, hematocrit increased with r-HuEPO from 32 to 37% after 7.6 +/- 2.7 weeks (mean +/- SD). Antihypertensive drug therapy was increased in 2 patients in each group. Renal function, cardiac output, plasma renin activity and aldosterone did not change significantly in either group. After 18 +/- 9 weeks of therapy for all patients, hematocrit increased from 31 to 39%. Antihypertensive drug therapy was increased in 5 patients and decreased in 1. Renal function decreased while proteinuria tended to increase. Cardiac output, plasma renin activity and aldosterone did not change. During 37 +/- 22 weeks of r-HuEPO therapy, the slope of l/serum creatinine did not worsen in any patient.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) One hundred seventeen patients with anemia related to chronic renal failure not severe enough to require maintenance dialysis were randomly assigned to receive recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO; 50, 100, or 150 U/kg body weight) or placebo intravenously (IV) three times a week for 8 weeks or until their anemia was corrected. Correction of anemia (hematocrit of 40% for males, 35% for females) occurred in 87% of those given 150 U/kg, 64% of those given 100 U/kg, 46% of those given 50 U/kg rHuEPO and in 3% of the placebo group. Energy levels and work capacity improved significantly in the group with corrected anemia compared with the group with uncorrected anemia. rHuEPO appeared to be well tolerated. There was no evidence that rHuEPO therapy accelerated the deterioration of renal function as measured by serum creatinine and reciprocal of serum creatinine compared with placebo treatment. However, it is essential that blood pressure and hematocrit be carefully monitored, particularly in hypertensive patients, to prevent the development of complications associated with hypertension. Recombinant human erythropoietin (r-HuEPO) was administered in two phases to 12 patients with chronic renal insufficiency (creatinine clearances of 0.17-0.51 ml/second [10-30 ml/minute]) and uremic anemia. In addition to the routine tests done as part of a multicenter clinical trial, our patients had serial red cell mass measurements, quantitation of bone marrow stem cells, and marrow cytogenetic analysis. During the first eight weeks (acute phase), an equal number of patients was randomized to placebo or one of three doses of r-HuEPO (50, 100 or 150 unit/kg intravenously three times weekly). All three patients receiving 150 unit/kg responded by increasing their packed cell volume (PCV) to the normal range within eight weeks. There were lesser responses in PCV at the two lower doses of r-HuEPO and no response in the placebo group. The 51Cr red cell mass also increased significantly in a dose-related manner in patients receiving r-HuEPO but did not change in the placebo group. Marrow studies revealed increases in erythroid, megakaryocyte, and granulocyte-monocyte progenitor cells in those patients on r-HuEPO, but no mutagenic effects were seen. Subsequently, ten patients received open label r-HuEPO. During this maintenance phase, all ten achieved or maintained a normal PCV. Several adverse events occurred, but none were definitely linked to r-HuEPO. Recombinant human erythropoietin is an effective and potent treatment of anemia caused by renal failure. To determine the efficacy and safety of recombinant human erythropoietin (r-HuEPO) in predialysis renal patients.
                Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial for 8 weeks.
                Inpatient and outpatient facility in the Clinical Research Center of a university-based hospital.
                Fourteen adult subjects with renal insufficiency (mean serum creatinine, 473 mumol/L +/- 61 [6.2 +/- 0.8 mg/dL]) and anemia (mean hematocrit, 0.27 +/- 0.01).
                Recombinant human erythropoietin, 50, 100, or 150 IU/kg body weight or placebo given intravenously three times per week.
                Subjects who received active r-HuEPO showed a dose-dependent rise in hematocrit; mean hematocrit increased 41% from 0.27 +/- 0.01 to 0.38 +/- 0.01. At the same time, erythrocyte mass rose 43% from 13.7 +/- 0.6 mL/kg in the baseline state to 19.6 +/- 1.0 mL/kg after treatment. Maximal oxygen consumption during exercise increased 9% from 16.0 mL/min.kg +/- 1.8 to 17.5 mL/min.kg +/- 1.9.
                Recombinant human erythropoietin is effective and safe in ameliorating the anemia of pre-dialysis patients. A study was undertaken to ascertain the effects of recombinant human erythropoietin (r-HuEPO) on renal function in chronic renal failure predialysis patients. The effect of improvement of anemia by r-HuEPO on the rate of decline in renal function in predialysis patients has not been previously studied prospectively in a large number of patients using reliable measures of glomerular filtration rate (GFR). To investigate the efficacy, safety, and impact of r-HuEPO therapy in chronic renal insufficiency patients, a 48-week, randomized, open-label, multicenter study was initiated in 83 anemic, predialysis (serum creatinine 3 to 8 mg/dL) patients. Serial GFRs were measured using 125I-iothalamate clearance. Forty patients were randomized to the untreated arm and 43 patients to the treatment arm (50 U/kg r-HuEPO subcutaneously three times weekly). Baseline characteristics were comparable for the r-HuEPO-treated and untreated groups. During this 48-week study, GFR, mean arterial blood pressure, and daily protein intake were not significantly different between the two groups. There was a statistically significant increase in hematocrit for the r-HuEPO-treated group that was not associated with acceleration of deterioration in residual renal function. This was demonstrated by the lack of a significant (P = 0.376) between-group difference in mean change in GFR from baseline to last available value for the r-HuEPO-treated (-2.1 +/- 3.2 mL/min) and untreated (-2.8 +/- 3.5 mL/min) groups. This study concludes that r-HuEPO therapy improves anemia in predialysis patients and does not accelerate the rate of progression to end-stage renal disease. To examine the effects of erythropoietin on the anemia of chronic renal disease and on the rate of renal deterioration, we administered recombinant human erythropoietin to 17 patients with anemia and progressive renal failure who did not yet require dialysis (serum creatinine level, 353 to 972 mumol per liter [4.0 to 11.0 mg per deciliter]). The dose of erythropoietin (50 to 150 units per kilogram of body weight) was adjusted according to the hematocrit response. In all 17 patients the anemia responded to erythropoietin. The median hematocrit increased from 0.27 to 0.37. The rate of the response depended on the initial erythropoietin dose and was similar to that observed in patients who were on dialysis. Hypertension was present in 14 patients before therapy, developed during therapy in 2 of the normotensive patients, and worsened in 9 patients, who required additional antihypertensive medications. The rate of the decline in renal function, as measured by serial determination of the reciprocal of the serum creatinine level, did not change significantly as the hematocrit rose (P = 0.78 by the paired t-test) during erythropoietin therapy. All the patients reported improvements in appetite, activity level, and sense of well-being. We conclude that erythropoietin therapy is effective in correcting the anemia of patients with progressive renal failure without affecting renal function, although it may be associated with an increase in blood pressure. Anemia is already present in patients with moderate renal failure and is a major cause of the decline in exercise capacity seen in these patients. We examined the effects of erythropoietin (EPO) treatment in 12 predialytic uremic patients (EPO group: mean age 46 +/- 12 years; 6 men, 6 women) with a mean glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of 10 +/- 4 ml/min x 1.73 m2. These patients were compared to a control group of 8 patients (5 men, 3 women). The observation period was 3 months. The EPO group received 300 U/kg body weight i.v. once a week. The EPO group increased their total hemoglobin (THb) from 323 +/- 89 to 466 +/- 128 g (p less than 0.001) and their hemoglobin concentration from 86 +/- 8 to 117 +/- 11 milligrams (p less than 0.001). Their exercise capacity, measured by a standardized exercise test on a bicycle ergometer, increased from 128 +/- 45 to 147 +/- 57 W (p less than 0.01). The control group did not change their THb (349 +/- 124 and 357 +/- 131 g), hemoglobin (93 +/- 8 and 94 +/- 10 milligrams) or exercise capacity (98 +/- 49 and 101 +/- 50 W) during the observation period. There was a significant correlation between the increase in THb and the increase in exercise capacity in the EPO group (r = 0.81, p less than 0.005). The GFR was unchanged in both groups (EPO group: 10 +/- 4 and 10 +/- 6 ml/min x 1.73 m2; control group: 8 +/- 3 and 8 +/- 3 ml/min x 1.73 m2).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Fourteen nondialyzed patients with chronic renal insufficiency (serum creatinine 265 to 972 mumol/L [3.0 to 11.0 mg/dL]) and severe anemia (hematocrit less than 30%) were randomized to receive either recombinant human erythropoietin (r-HuEPO) or a placebo subcutaneously thrice weekly for 12 weeks or until reaching a hematocrit of 38% to 40%. Anemia was significantly ameliorated in the treated patients. No acceleration in the progression of renal failure (1/serum creatinine v time) or change in serum potassium was noted for either the placebo or treated group over the 12-week period. Six of seven treated patients had a significant decrease in serum ferritin and percent transferrin saturation (plasma iron/total iron-binding capacity). This resulted in functional iron deficiency and the requirement for iron supplementation. The average systolic and diastolic blood pressure did not differ significantly between the two groups of patients during the study. Quality of life was improved in all r-HuEPO-treated patients but not in those in the placebo group. This study demonstrates the safety and efficacy of r-HuEPO in the correction of anemia in predialysis patients without adverse effects on renal function over a 12-week period. Improved patient well-being as a result of the correction of anemia resulted in one patient refusing appropriate initiation of dialysis therapy.