Abstract | AIM: METHODS: Eighty-eight chronic HCV patients who developed anemia during therapy were enrolled into this retrospective study: 55 in the EPO-beta group and 33 in the untreated group. The study endpoints were to assess the RBV maintenance and the changes in Hb. RESULTS: A higher percentage of patients with RBV maintenance was observed in the EPO-beta group compared with the untreated group (nadir Hb level <10.5 g/dL; 70% vs. 38%, P = 0.020; nadir Hb < 10 g/dL; 62% vs. 27%, P = 0.046). The mean Hb change from week 12 to week 20 was higher in the EPO-beta group when compared with the untreated group, especially for patients receiving a total EPO-beta dose of more than 16 000 U (+0.70 g/dL vs. -0.32 g/dL, P = 0.023) and of 10 000 U-14 000 U (+0.60 g/dL vs. -0.32 g/dL, P = 0.023). CONCLUSIONS: Low-dose EPO-beta can maintain RBV dose and increase Hb levels in anemic chronic HCV patients receiving combination therapy.
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Authors | Kuo-Chih Tseng, Li-Hsuan Chen, Chi-Yi Chen, Ting-Tsung Chang, An-Liang Chou, I-Chin Wu, Pin-Nan Cheng |
Journal | Hepatology research : the official journal of the Japan Society of Hepatology
(Hepatol Res)
Vol. 39
Issue 6
Pg. 539-45
(Jun 2009)
ISSN: 1386-6346 [Print] Netherlands |
PMID | 19254345
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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