We have located links that may give you full text access.
CLINICAL TRIAL
COMPARATIVE STUDY
JOURNAL ARTICLE
RESEARCH SUPPORT, NON-U.S. GOV'T
Utilization of darbepoetin alfa and epoetin alfa for chemotherapy-induced anemia.
American Journal of Health-system Pharmacy : AJHP 2005 January 2
PURPOSE: The patterns of use and effectiveness of therapy with darbepoetin alfa and epoetin alfa for chemotherapy-induced anemia (CIA) in hospital outpatient and community settings were evaluated.
METHODS: Data were collected from medical charts at 65 oncology clinics in hospital outpatient and community settings for consecutive patients who received the first dose of either darbepoetin alfa or epoetin alfa between August 1, 2002, and February 15, 2003, and were to have had 12 weeks of follow-up data.
RESULTS: Data from the charts of 3123 patients were abstracted. Of these patients, 2785 were treated with only one erythropoietic agent (1444 with darbepoetin alfa and 1341 with epoetin alfa) and were included in the analysis. The most common initial dosage of darbepoetin alfa was 200 microg every two weeks (61% of darbepoetin alfa recipients), and the most common initial dosage of epoetin alfa was 40,000 units weekly (72%). With these regimens, the dosage was escalated for 22% of darbepoetin alfa recipients and 23% of epoetin alfa recipients at a median of six weeks after the initial dose. The mean change from baseline in hemoglobin concentration after 12 weeks of therapy was similar for both groups, as was the percent of patients with red-blood-cell transfusions during treatment.
CONCLUSION: The most common initial dosage of darbepoetin alfa for CIA was 200 microg every two weeks, and the most common initial dosage of epoetin alfa was 40,000 units weekly. At these dosages, the two agents appear to have similar clinical effectiveness.
METHODS: Data were collected from medical charts at 65 oncology clinics in hospital outpatient and community settings for consecutive patients who received the first dose of either darbepoetin alfa or epoetin alfa between August 1, 2002, and February 15, 2003, and were to have had 12 weeks of follow-up data.
RESULTS: Data from the charts of 3123 patients were abstracted. Of these patients, 2785 were treated with only one erythropoietic agent (1444 with darbepoetin alfa and 1341 with epoetin alfa) and were included in the analysis. The most common initial dosage of darbepoetin alfa was 200 microg every two weeks (61% of darbepoetin alfa recipients), and the most common initial dosage of epoetin alfa was 40,000 units weekly (72%). With these regimens, the dosage was escalated for 22% of darbepoetin alfa recipients and 23% of epoetin alfa recipients at a median of six weeks after the initial dose. The mean change from baseline in hemoglobin concentration after 12 weeks of therapy was similar for both groups, as was the percent of patients with red-blood-cell transfusions during treatment.
CONCLUSION: The most common initial dosage of darbepoetin alfa for CIA was 200 microg every two weeks, and the most common initial dosage of epoetin alfa was 40,000 units weekly. At these dosages, the two agents appear to have similar clinical effectiveness.
Full text links
Related Resources
Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university
For the best experience, use the Read mobile app
All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2024 by WebMD LLC.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.
By using this service, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.
Your Privacy Choices
You can now claim free CME credits for this literature searchClaim now
Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university
For the best experience, use the Read mobile app