Article Text

Download PDFPDF
Epoetins and ▼darbepoetin alfa in malignant disease
  • Relevant BNF section: 9.1.3

Abstract

Anaemia is common in people with cancer, and may reduce their quality of life1 and life expectancy.2 Blood transfusion can increase haemoglobin levels but is usually reserved for those with moderate anaemia (haemoglobin level below 10g/dL).3 A potential alternative is treatment with one of the human recombinant forms of erythropoietin, epoetin alfa (Eprex - Janssen-Cilag) or epoetin beta (NeoRecormon - Roche), or their hyperglycosylated derivative ▼darbepoetin alfa (Aranesp - Amgen). These products have improved the management of patients with chronic renal failure who are anaemic.4 Here we assess the place of the epoetins and darbepoetin alfa in managing anaemia in patients with cancer.

Statistics from Altmetric.com

Request Permissions

If you wish to reuse any or all of this article please use the link below which will take you to the Copyright Clearance Center’s RightsLink service. You will be able to get a quick price and instant permission to reuse the content in many different ways.

  • Relevant BNF section: 9.1.3

View Full Text

Footnotes