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. 2013 Feb 4;8:111–122. doi: 10.2147/CIA.S27105

Table 4.

Summary of the studies included in the recent meta-analysis by Van der Meer et al42,64

Study Follow-up n Patients End points Major exclusion criteria ESA therapy Target Hgb Study design
Parissis et al65 3 months 32 NYHA II–III LVEF < 40% Hgb < 12.5 g/dL Exercise capacity Echocardiographic LV and RV evaluation sCr > 2.5 mg/dL Darbepoetin alfa 14.0 g/dL Randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled, single-center study
Ghali et al63 1 year 319 NYHA ll–IV LVEF < 40% Hgb < 12.5 g/dL Change in exercise time NYHA class, mortality HF hospitalization sCr > 3.0 mg/dL Dacarbepoetin alfa 14.0 g/dL Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study
Van Veldhuisen et al67 26 weeks 165 Symptomatic HF LVEF < 40% Hgb 9.0–12.5 g/dL Hgb increase, 6-minute walk distance, safety sCr > 3.0 mg/dL Darbepoetin alfa 14.0 g/dL Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study
Ponikowski et al62 26 weeks 41 Symptomatic CHF LVEF < 40% Hgb 9–12 g/dL Exercise tolerance and duration, NYHA, BNP, hospitalization Blood transfusion or ESA within 12 weeks sCr > 3.0 mg/dL Darbepoetin alfa Hgb 13.0–15.0 g/dL Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study
Mancini et al61 3 months 23 NYHA III/IV Ht < 35% Exercise performance Non-ambulatory patients, continuous inotropic agents, iron deficiency anemia sCr > 2.5 mg/dL Erythropoietin alfa Ht > 45% Randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled, single-center study
Palazzuoli et al66 3 months 38 NYHA III/IV Hgb < 11 g/dL NYHA class, exercise capacity, renal function, O2 use, BNP Secondary causes of anemia, isolated diastolic HF, < 12 weeks Ml sCr > 5.0 mg/dL Erythropoietin beta Hgb 11.5–12.0 g/dL Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, single-center study
Silverberg et al70 8.2 months 32 LVEF < 40% Hgb 10–11.5 g/dL Days of hospitalization Secondary causes of anemia Erythropoietin 12.5 g/dL Randomized, open-label, single-center study

Abbreviations: BNP, brain natriuretic peptide; ESA, erythropoietin-stimulating agent; Hgb, hemoglobin; HF, heart failure; ht, hematocrit; Ml, myocardial infarction; sCr, serum creatinine; LV, left ventricular; LVEF, left ventricular ejection fraction; NYHA, New York Heart Association; RV, right ventricular.