Erythropoietin Stimulating Agents and Epoetin Alfa Revisited: What's Really Relevant?

[摘要] It has been more than 20 yr since the introduction of recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEpO) to treat the anemia of chronic kidney disease (CKD; initially in dialysis-dependent patients but subsequently in patients with CKD-associated anemia before dialysis) (1). It heralded a very important era in the treatment and care of the patient with CKD. The first commercially available form of rHuEpO was epoetin alfa, but there are now many erythropoietin-stimulating agent (ESA) products, all of which are fundamentally very effective in correcting CKD-induced anemia and maintaining hemoglobin (Hb) levels. In this issue are three articles specifically related to epoetin alfa; two concern the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of epoetin alfa and their relevance to dosing intervals, and the third addresses patient responsiveness to epoetin alfa.

[学科分类] 泌尿医学

[关键词] Bone marrow necrosis;Sickle cell disease;Hyperhemolysis syndrome