Randomized trial investigates darbepoetin alfa effects on outcomes in kidney disease patients, suggesting risks may exceed benefits.
The use of darbepoetin alfa in patients with diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and moderate anemia who were not undergoing dialysis did not reduce the risk of either of the two primary composite outcomes (either death or a cardiovascular event or death or a renal event) and was associated with an increased risk of stroke. For many persons involved in clinical decision making, this risk will outweigh the potential benefits. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00093015.)
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Pfeffer et al. (2009) studied this question.
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