Table 1 Demographics and baseline characteristics of the cohort of anemic chronic kidney disease participants treated with usual or high-dose ESA
Variable | High-dose ESA (≥1 mcg/kg/wk of darbepoetin-α) (n = 11) | Usual-dose ESA (< 1 mcg/kg/wk of darbepoetin-α) (n = 21) | P-value |
|---|---|---|---|
Age | 71.1 ± 11.2 | 67.4 ± 10.2 | 0.38 |
Primary Cause of Kidney Disease (%) | Â | Â | 0.13 |
   Diabetes | 3 (27.3%) | 10 (47.6%) |  |
   Hypertension | 3 (27.3%) | 6 (28.6%) |  |
   Glomerulonephritis | 0 (0.0%) | 2 (9.5%) |  |
   Unknown | 3 (27.3%) | 0 (0.0%) |  |
   Other | 2 (18.2%) | 3 (14.3%) |  |
Male Sex | 1 (9%) | 8 (38.1%) | 0.11 |
Race (%) | Â | Â | 0.71 |
   Black | 5 (45.5%) | 12 (57.1%) |  |
   White | 6 (54.6%) | 9 (42.9%) |  |
Weight (kg) | 80.6 ± 29.6 | 92.0 ± 21.8 | 0.28 |
Blood Pressure (mmHg) | Â | Â | Â |
   Systolic | 127.0 ± 11.0 | 130.0 ± 16.2 | 0.54 |
   Diastolic | 67.2 ± 8.3 | 68.8 ± 13.1 | 0.72 |
Heart rate (beats/min) | 80.4 ± 19.4 | 74.3 ± 11.2 | 0.36 |
Baseline Comorbidities (%) | Â | Â | Â |
   Diabetes, non insulin requiring | 3 (27.3%) | 7 (33.3%) | 0.99 |
   Diabetes, insulin requiring | 5 (45.5%) | 9 (42.9%) | 0.99 |
   Cerebrovascular accident | 0 (0.0%) | 3 (14.3%) | 0.53 |
   Hypertension | 11 (100.0%) | 21 (100.0%) | 0.99 |
   Hyperparathyroidism | 7 (63.6%) | 15 (71.4%) | 0.70 |
   Congestive heart failure | 2 (18.2%) | 1 (4.8%) | 0.27 |
   Cancer | 0 (0.0%) | 2 (9.5%) | 0.53 |
   Coronary artery disease | 3 (27.3%) | 6 (28.6%) | 0.99 |
Darbepoetin-α dose (3-month average) | 94.1 mcg/week (1.4 mcg/kg/week) | 49.7 mcg/week (0.5 mcg/kg/week) | 0.001 |
Baseline Medications (%) | Â | Â | Â |
   Vitamin D | 7 (63.6%) | 14 (66.7%) | 0.99 |
   HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor | 7 (63.6%) | 10 (47.6%) | 0.47 |
   Oral Iron | 7 (63.6%) | 17 (81.0%) | 0.40 |
   Intravenous Iron | 1 (9.1%) | 1 (4.8%) | 0.99 |
Non-calcium containing phosphorus binder | 0 (0.0%) | 1 (4.8%) | 0.99 |
Calcium-containing phosphorus binder | 2 (18.2%) | 3 (14.3%) | 0.99 |
   Coumadin | 2 (18.2%) | 1 (4.8%) | 0.27 |
   Aspirin | 6 (54.6%) | 14 (66.7%) | 0.70 |
   ACE/ARB | 7 (63.6%) | 16 (76.2%) | 0.68 |
   Alpha antagonist | 0 (0.0%) | 4 (19.1%) | 0.27 |
   Beta blocker | 6 (54.6%) | 13 (61.9%) | 0.72 |
   Calcium channel blocker | 5 (45.5%) | 10 (47.6%) | 0.99 |
   Nitroglycerin | 1 (9.1%) | 3 (14.3%) | 0.99 |
Hematology Laboratory Values | Â | Â | Â |
   3-month average hemoglobin (g/dl) | 10.4 ± 0.7 | 11.5 ± 0.8 | 0.0005 |
   Hemoglobin at enrollment (g/dl) | 10.8 ± 1.0 | 12.3 ± 0.9 | 0.0004 |
   Serum Iron (mcg/dl) | 75.9 ± 31.6 | 78.1 ± 21.8 | 0.94 |
   Serum Ferritin (ng/ml, median, IQR) | 343.0 (224.0, 673.0) | 353.0 (314.0, 493.0) | 0.93* |
   Transferrin saturation, % | 28.9 ± 10.3 | 32.1 ± 8.6 | 0.59 |
Chemistry Laboratory Values | Â | Â | Â |
   Serum blood urea nitrogen (mg/dl) | 58.3 ± 24.8 | 54.6 ± 14.8 | 0.66 |
   Serum creatinine (mg/dl) | 2.6 ± 1.2 | 2.7 ± 1.1 | 0.88 |
   MDRD GFR (ml/min per 1.73 m2) | 25.9 ± 15.1 | 25.9 ± 9.3 | 0.99 |
   Serum glucose (mg/dl, median, IQR) | 109.0 (88.0, 134.0) | 113.0 (89.0, 154.5) | 0.47* |
   Serum albumin (mg/dl) | 4.0 ± 0.4 | 3.9 ± 0.3 | 0.38 |
   Serum phosphorus (mg/dl) | 4.5 ± 1.0 | 4.1 ± 0.6 | 0.22 |
   Serum PTH (pg ml-1, median, IQR) | 148.5 (39.0, 208.0) | 99.0 (52.0, 167.0) | 0.59* |