Shift from darbepoetin-α to continuous erythropoietin receptor activator decreases serum aluminium concentration in patients on hemodialysis

Objective: The response of erythropoietic stimulating agents (ESA) in uremic patients may be associated with the changes of biochemical parameters, metal elements and inflammation status during the shift from one ESA to another. Method: We compared changes in above mentioned factors after switching from darbepoetin-α (DPO) 20 μg weekly for 10 weeks to continuous erythropoietin receptor activator (CERA) 100 μg monthly for 10 weeks in uremic patients on hemodialysis. The haematocrit (Hct), metal elements and inflammation status are the primary outcome. Subjects included 54 patients without transfusion or bleeding or additional ESAs. Responders (IR, n = 36) were defined as patients with an increase in Hct after the swtich. Result: Although there was no significant difference in overall mean Hct after the switch (p = 0.135), there are significantly greater mean number of red blood cells (RBC) (p = 0.006), higher platelet numbers (p = 0.001), larger RBCs (p = 0.017) and higher creatinine (p = 0.04) and total cholesterol (T-CHOL) (p = 0.003) levels. Mean overall aluminium (Al) level decreased significantly (p = 0.001). C-reactive protein (CRP) also decreased (p = 0.016). The overall LDH increased (p = 0.049) and potassium decreased significantly (p = 0.036), which indicating active erythropoiesis. The calcium (Ca) level was significantly higher (p = 0.034) and phosphate was significantly lower (p = 0.028) after the shift. Although there was no significant increase in overall levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH) after the shift (p = 0.061), but the pre-shift and post-shift PTH level was significantly higher in IRs than in non-IRs (p = 0.003 and p = 0.027, respectively). IRs had a significantly lower initial T-CHOL (p = 0.03) and initial CRP (p = 0.012) than non-responders, which may be related to lower inflammation. Conclusion: We found the shift from DPO to CERA results in lower Al levels, a reduced inflammatory response, and an increase in RBC number and PTH level in uremic patients on hemodialysis.