Table 4.
Incidence of hemoglobin levels ≥12 g/dL or ≥13 g/dL or rapid hemoglobin rises
| Baseline Hemoglobin < 10 g/dL | Baseline Hemoglobin ≥10 g/dL | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Darbepoetin alfa 500 mcg Q3W N = 176 |
Darbepoetin alfa 2.25 mcg/kg QW N = 175 |
Darbepoetin alfa 500 mcg Q3W N = 177 |
Darbepoetin alfa 2.25 mcg/kg QW N = 177 |
|
| Mean (SD) average weekly darbepoetin alfa dose, mcg/weeka | 134 (36) | 115 (41) | 125 (34) | 112 (43) |
| Hemoglobin threshold of ≥12 g/dL achieved at any time during the study, n (%)b | 44 (31) | 49 (34) | 109 (66) | 99 (63) |
| Hemoglobin threshold of ≥13 g/dL achieved at any time during the study, n (%)b | 20 (11) | 24 (14) | 56 (32) | 60 (34) |
| Dose withheld due to achievement of > 13 g/dL hemoglobin, n (%) | 4 (2) | 22 (13) | 12 (7) | 57 (32) |
| Rapid rise in hemoglobin, n (%) | ||||
| ≥1 g/dL in 14 days | 99 (56) | 103 (59) | 133 (75) | 119 (67) |
| ≥2 g/dL in 28 days | 48 (27) | 54 (31) | 70 (40) | 64 (36) |
| Dose reduction due to rapid hemoglobin increasec, % (95% CI) | 57 (49 to 64) | 69 (61 to 75) | 75 (67 to 81) | 69 (62 to 76) |
Q3W = every three weeks; QW = weekly
aExcluding withheld or missed doses.
bHemoglobin measurements within 28 days of a RBC transfusion or whole blood transfusion were excluded.
cA rapid hemoglobin increase sufficient to trigger dose reduction was defined as ≥1 g/dL hemoglobin rise in a 14-day window in the absence of a transfusion during the previous 14 days.