Study of the Efficacy of Darbepoetin Alfa in the Treatment of Renal Anemia

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis
• Patients receiving subcutaneous recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO)
• Patients with haemoglobin level ?10 g/dL and remain stable for the past 3 months while receiving rHuEPO

Exclusion Criteria:

• Uncontrolled hypertension
• Severe congestive heart failure (NYHA class III or IV)
• Grand mal epilepsy
• Any kind of blood loss causing Fe depletion
• Presence of infection, either acute or chronic, or inflammatory conditions within 3 months preceding the study
• Malignancy
• Aluminum toxicity
• Severe hyperparathyroidism with marrow fibrosis or osteitis fibrosa _ PTH > 20 times of normal
• Vitamin B12 or folate deficiency _ MCV > 100fL
• Haemolysis
• Marrow dysfunction e.g. aplastic anaemia, myelodysplastic syndrome, multiple myeloma, etc
• Thalassaemia major, intermediate or minor, or red cell enzyme defects
• Blood transfusion within 3 months preceding the study
• Pregnancy or lactating mothers