Abstract
Recently, there have been several reports that hemoglobin variability is associated with adverse outcomes such as increases in morbidity and mortality. The cause of hemoglobin variability is not yet clear, and the difference between rHuEPO and long-acting ESA, Darbepoetin alfa, has not yet been clarified. To examine the difference between rHuEPO and long-acting ESA for hemoglobin variability, we analysed hemodialysis patient data. The data used for analysis were obtained from a double blind randomized study in which efficacy and safety of Epoetin alfa compared with those of Darbepoetin alfa. We evaluated hemoglobin variability using six methods that have already been reported. As a result, there was no difference between the efficacy and safety of Epoetin alfa and Darbepoetin alfa for hemoglobin variability. Therefore, it is suggested that hemoglobin variability is not influenced by the type of ESA.
