Poor Response To Anti-Anemia Drug Predicts Higher Risk Of Heart Disease Or Death
Posted Dec 29 2010 9:29pm
Patients with diabetes, kidney disease and anemia who don’t respond to treatment with an anti-anemia drug have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease or death, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have found.
The results suggest that testing such patients’ responsiveness to the drug and keeping blood iron levels a little low might reduce their risk, said Dr. Robert Toto, professor of internal medicine and clinical sciences and a senior author of the study, which appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine.
“These patients required higher doses and ended up having lower hemoglobin anyway,” Dr. Toto said. “The results of this study might lead us in directions that can help.”
Testing of patients with diabetes, kidney disease and anemia who don’t respond to an anti-anemia drug treatment has demonstrated a higher risk of cardiovascular disease or death. The testing was led by Dr. Robert Toto and was administered by Tammy Lightfoot, clinical research manager.
The results were an unexpected finding of a study on darbepoetin alpha, which stimulates the production of red blood cells to counteract anemia. The drug, manufactured by Amgen, is sold under the name Aranesp.
Patients with diabetes, kidney disease and anemia who don’t respond to treatment with an anti-anemia drug have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease or death, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have found.
The results suggest that testing such patients’ responsiveness to the drug and keeping blood iron levels a little low might reduce their risk, said Dr. Robert Toto, professor of internal medicine and clinical sciences and a senior author of the study, which appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine.
“These patients required higher doses and ended up having lower hemoglobin anyway,” Dr. Toto said. “The results of this study might lead us in directions that can help.”
Testing of patients with diabetes, kidney disease and anemia who don’t respond to an anti-anemia drug treatment has demonstrated a higher risk of cardiovascular disease or death. The testing was led by Dr. Robert Toto and was administered by Tammy Lightfoot, clinical research manager.
The results were an unexpected finding of a study on darbepoetin alpha, which stimulates the production of red blood cells to counteract anemia. The drug, manufactured by Amgen, is sold under the name Aranesp.