Clin Nephrol
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Comparative Study
Switch of ESA therapy from darbepoetin-alpha to epoetin-beta in hemodialysis patients: a single-center experience.
No study has previously investigated a switch from darbepoetin-alpha to epoetin-beta in unselected dialysis patients. Our study determined the intravenous epoetin-beta dose necessary to maintain or to achieve hemoglobin targets after switching from darbepoetin-alpha. ⋯ After switching from darbepoetin-alpha i.v. to epoetin-beta i.v., the equimolar epoetin-beta dose was not sufficient to maintain hemoglobin levels with the same efficacy above 11.0 g/dl. Significantly less patients achieved hemoglobin target values as suggested by the EBPG guidelines.