Table 2.

Biological parameters at baseline and for a 6-month study period in both treatment groups.

Laboratory	Baseline			Mean value during the study period		P-value
	Aranesp group n = 67	Eprex group n = 60	P-value	Aranesp group n = 67	Eprex group n = 60
Hb [median (IQR)]	9.9 (9.3–10.3)	9.5 (9.2–10.3)	0.156**	10.8 (10.6–11.1)	10.3 (9.4–10.8)	< 0.001**
Creatinine (mean ± SD)	8.6 ± 2.0	8.1 ± 1.7	0.126*	8.4 ± 1.6	8.3 ± 1.4	0.525*
Ferritin [median (IQR)]	664.3 (284.4–944.5)	430.5 (184.5–1459.8)	0.377**	670.1 (354.1–940.0)	378.5 (200.2–1060.1)	0.241**
Iron [median (IQR)]	60 (49.0–69.0)	70.5 (47.3–82.5)	0.076**	61.0 (53.0–73.0)	68.8 (57.0–80.8)	0.079**
TIBC [median (IQR)]	222 (200.0–242.0)	223.5 (201.5–253.0)	0.646**	214.5 (196.0–233.0)	230.0 (202.1–267.1)	0.091**
TS (mean ± SD)	27.6 ± 12.2	31.7 ± 14.3	0.082*	28.8 ± 8.8	31.5 ± 12.1	0.161*
Calcium [median (IQR)]	8.8 (8.5–9.1)	8.8 (8.5–9.6)	0.345**	8.7 (8.4–9.0)	8.8 (8.5–9.2)	0.145**
Phosphate (mean ± SD)	4.9 ± 1.1	4.6 ± 0.9	0.178*	4.7 ± 1.0	4.4 ± 0.7	0.051*
Sodium [median (IQR)]	138.0 (137.0–139.0)	137 (136.2–139.0)	0.789**	138.0 (137.3–138.7)	137.9 (137.2–139.3)	0.442**
Potassium [median (IQR)]	4.9 (4.7–5.0)	4.9 (4.6–5.2)	0.683**	4.9 (4.7–5.0)	4.9 (4.8–5.3)	0.069**
iPTH [median (IQR)]	506.0 (322.0–598.6)	441.0 (301.8–603.0)	0.580**	469.5 (328.2–615.2)	428.5 (287.07–610.38)	0.454**
Albumin [median (IQR)]	3.9 (3.7–4.1)	3.8 (3.6–4.0)	0.123**	3.9 (3.7–4.1)	3.8 (3.7–3.9)	0.338**

IQR, interquartile range; TIBC, total iron binding capacity; TS, transferrin saturation; iPTH, intact parathyroid hormone.

^*P-values were obtained by the independent t-test.

^**P-values were obtained by the Mann-Whitney U test.