A Comparative Study of the Hemoglobin-Maintaining Effects Between Epoetin-β Pegol and Darbepoetin-α in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease During 3 Months Before Dialysis Initiation

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE We compared the hemoglobin-maintaining effects between continuous erythropoietin receptor activator (CERA) and darbepoetin-α (DA) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) during the 3 months before dialysis initiation. METHODS This study was conducted with 37 CERA-administered patients and 26 DA-administered patients who had initiated dialysis at a participating facility between January 2012 and December 2014. We investigated clinical laboratory data 3 months before and at dialysis initiation, and compared these data between the CERA and DA groups. RESULTS No significant differences in hemoglobin level or reticulocyte count were found between the two groups 3 months before dialysis initiation. However, at dialysis initiation, the hemoglobin level (CERA 9.82 ± 1.52 vs. DA 8.79 ± 1.07 g/dL; P = 0.003) and the reticulocyte count (CERA 5.21 ± 2.95 vs. DA 3.15 ± 1.62 × 104/μL; P = 0.004) were significantly higher in the CERA group than in the DA group. Moreover, the extent of changes in the erythropoietin resistance index during the 3 months before dialysis initiation was significantly increased in the DA group compared with the CERA group. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that CERA may be more effective than DA in maintaining hemoglobin levels in patients with CKD during 3 months before dialysis initiation.