Abstract

It is well known, that iron status is often disturbed in patients undergoing regular hemodialysis treatment. Additionally, these patients suffer from anemia due to erythropoietin loss. Darbepoetin alfa therapy is a novel erythropoietin stimulating regimen. Only sparse data exists concerning iron metabolism and demand under darbepoetin alfa therapy. Therefore it was of interest to study iron and ferritin in hemodialysis patients before and after darbepoetin alfa therapy. 29 patients under regular hemodialysis treatment were investigated before and after a 40 weeks’ darbepoetin alfa therapy (10 – 60 mg darbepoetin alfa/week). In each patient iron and ferritin was measured. The results show that iron was 735 ± 364 mg/l before therapy versus 614 ± 242 mg/l after therapy (means ± SD, p < 0.05, paired t-test). Ferritin values were not significantly different (905 ± 394 versus 953 ± 437 mg/l). All patients were on iron supplementation (20 – 120 mg sodium ferric gluconate in sucrose injection per week on average). The results show that iron demand under regular hemodialysis conditions and darbepoetin alfa therapy is increased. Therefore a combined therapy with iron and darbepoetin alfa is necessary in patients undergoing regular hemodialysis treatment.

Author Details

Authors

• F. Tokmak¹
• K. Kisters²
• D. Rattensperger¹
• G. Schieren¹
• S. Weiner¹
• L.C. Rump¹

Departments

• ¹ Department of Nephrology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Marienhospital Herne, and
• ² Med. Clinic I, St. Anna Hospital, Herne, Germany

Address

Prof. Dr. K. Kisters
St.-Anna-Hospital
Hospitalstrasse 19
D–44649 Herne, Germany
Email: [email protected]

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