PDpoietin in Comparison With Eprex in Treatment of Anemic Patients on Hemodialysis

Introduction. PDpoietin is a recombinant erythropoietin alfa that has been introduced by a manufacturer in Iran. We assessed the effectiveness and complications of PDpoietin in comparison with Eprex in anemic patients on hemodialysis. Materials and Methods. This clinical trial was performed in a multicenter setting. Patients with a hemoglobin level less than 12 g/dL were assigned into 2 groups in order to receive either Eprex (Janssen Cilag) or PDpoietin (Pooyesh Darou) for 3 months. Results. Forty-one and 34 patients completed the study in the PDpoietin and Eprex groups, respectively. The mean hemoglobin levels at baseline were not significantly different between the two groups of patients with PDpoietin and Eprex. In both groups, hemoglobin levels increased significantly, but there were no significant differences between the two groups at months 1, 2, and 3. At the end of the study, the mean hemoglobin levels reached 11.6 ± 1.7 g/dL and 11.8 ± 1.9 g/dL, respectively (P = .002; P = .01). The mean hemoglobin per cumulative of drug dose index (hemoglobin/[erythropoietin dose/1000 × injections per month]) was not significantly different between the two groups at different treatment stages, and it did not change significantly in each group during the course of the study. No serious complications were reported. Conclusions. Eprex and PDpoietin could equally increase the hemoglobin levels with no significant complication. Therefore, PDpoietin can be used for treatment of anemia in patients on dialysis, and the patients will have the advantages of its availability and low price.