Fixing common blood disorder would make kidney transplants more successful

Anemia drugs prevent many transplanted kidneys from failing

2011-12-23

(Press-News.org) Washington, DC (December 22, 2011) — Correcting anemia, a red blood cell deficiency, can preserve kidney function in many kidney transplant recipients, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society Nephrology (JASN). The results indicate that aggressively treating anemia may help save the kidneys—and possibly the lives—of many transplant recipients.

Anemia commonly arises in patients with kidney disease because the kidneys secrete most of the hormone erythropoietin that stimulates red blood cell production. Anemia is also a common complication of kidney transplantation, with a prevalence of 25% to 40% after the first year.

Gabriel Choukroun, MD, PhD (CHU Amiens in France) and his colleagues initiated the Correction of Anemia and PRogression of Renal Insufficiency in Transplant patients (CAPRIT) study to see if the drug epoetin beta (a synthetic form of erythropoietin) could help preserve kidney function in kidney transplant recipients with anemia. Specifically, the investigators tested whether completely correcting anemia (by normalizing levels of hemoglobin, a blood component that carries oxygen) is better than partially correcting anemia.

During the study, 63 kidney transplant recipients took epoetin beta so that their hemoglobin levels remained in the normal range of 13.0 to 15.0 g/dL, while 62 patients took epoetin beta so that their hemoglobin levels hovered at a lower concentration of 10.5 to 11.5 g/dL.

Among the major findings after patients were treated for two years: 4.8% of patients with completely corrected anemia developed kidney failure, compared with 21% of patients with partially corrected anemia. 94.6% of transplanted kidneys in patients with completely corrected anemia were functional, compared with 80% in patients with partially corrected anemia. Patients with completely corrected anemia experienced a significant improvement in quality of life at six and 12 months after starting therapy.

"This study shows that correction of anemia in kidney transplant recipients with anemia slows the progression of kidney failure and improves survival of transplanted kidneys," said Dr. Choukroun. Additional studies are needed to determine whether this also prolongs patients' lives.

###Study co-authors include Nassim Kamar, Lionel Rostaing (CHU Toulouse); Bertrand Dussol (CHU Marseille); Isabelle Etienne (CHU Rouen); Elisabeth Cassuto-Viguier (CHU Nice); Olivier Toupance (CHU Reims); François Glowacki (CHU Lille); Bruno Moulin (CHU Strasbourg); Yvon Lebranchu (CHU Tours); Guy Touchard (CHU Poitiers); Maïté Jaureguy (CHU Amiens); Nicolas Pallet, Frank Martinez (CHU Necker); and Yannick Le Meur (CHU Brest).

Disclosures: The study was funded in part by a grant from Roche. Dr. Choukroun received honorarium from Roche for lectures and a grant for clinical research.

The article, entitled "Correction of Post-Kidney Transplant Anemia Reduces Progression of Allograft Nephropathy," will appear online at http://jasn.asnjournals.org/ on December 22, 2011, doi: 10.1681/ASN.2011060546.

The content of this article does not reflect the views or opinions of The American Society of Nephrology (ASN). Responsibility for the information and views expressed therein lies entirely with the author(s). ASN does not offer medical advice. All content in ASN publications is for informational purposes only, and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions, or adverse effects. This content should not be used during a medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. Please consult your doctor or other qualified health care provider if you have any questions about a medical condition, or before taking any drug, changing your diet or commencing or discontinuing any course of treatment. Do not ignore or delay obtaining professional medical advice because of information accessed through ASN. Call 911 or your doctor for all medical emergencies.

Founded in 1966, and with more than 13,500 members, the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) leads the fight against kidney disease by educating health professionals, sharing new knowledge, advancing research, and advocating the highest quality care for patients.

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Fixing common blood disorder would make kidney transplants more successful

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