The Clinical Efficacy of Epoetin Alfa and Darbepoetin Alfa in Patients with Low-Risk or Intermediate-1-Risk Myelodysplastic Syndrome: Retrospective Multi-center Real-Life Study

Ak M. A., Sahip B., GEDÜK A., Ucar M. A., Kale H., Hacibekiroglu T., ...More

INDIAN JOURNAL OF HEMATOLOGY AND BLOOD TRANSFUSION, vol.38, no.2, pp.299-308, 2022 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 38 Issue: 2
  • Publication Date: 2022
  • Doi Number: 10.1007/s12288-021-01458-1
  • Journal Name: INDIAN JOURNAL OF HEMATOLOGY AND BLOOD TRANSFUSION
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, CAB Abstracts, EMBASE
  • Page Numbers: pp.299-308
  • Keywords: Myelodysplastic syndrome, Low-risk-intermediate-1-risk, Epoetin alfa, Darbepoetin alfa, Treatment response, ERYTHROPOIETIN-STIMULATING AGENTS, PHASE-II, PREDICTIVE FACTORS, RESPONSE RATE, ANEMIA, TRIAL, SAFETY, DIAGNOSIS, MODEL
  • Kocaeli University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of epoetin alfa and darbepoetin alfa in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) in the real-life setting. A total of 204 patients with low-risk or intermediate-1-risk MDS who received epoetin alfa or darbepoetin alfa were included. Hemoglobin levels and transfusion need were recorded before and during 12-month treatment. Hemoglobin levels were significantly higher at each follow up visit when compared to baseline levels in both epoetin alfa (mean +/- SD 8.68 +/- 1.0 g/dL at baseline vs. 9.83 +/- 1.45, 9.99 +/- 1.55, 10.24 +/- 1.77 and 10.2 +/- 1.5 g/dL, respectively) and darbepoetin alfa (8.83 +/- 1.09 g/dL at baseline vs. 9.62 +/- 1.37, 9.78 +/- 1.49, 9.9 +/- 1.39 and 10.1 +/- 1.5 g/dL, respectively) groups (p < 0.001 for each). Transfusion need significantly decreased from baseline at each study visit in the epoetin alfa group (p < 0.001) and only at the 12th month visit (p < 0.001) in the darbepoetin alfa group. Hemoglobin levels or transfusion need was similar between treatment groups. Overall, 12-month response rate was 58.1% for epoetin alfa and 41.9% for darbepoetin alfa, with no significant difference between treatment groups, whereas higher response rate was noted within the first three months (62.7%) compared to next 9 months (ranged 44.4-60%) of treatment in the epoetin alfa group (p ranged 0.002 to < 0.001). This real-life retrospective study revealed similar efficacy of epoetin alfa and darbepoetin alfa among low risk or intermediate-1 risk MDS patients with no difference in treatment response between treatment groups, whereas a likelihood of earlier treatment response in the epoetin alfa group.