Epoetin alfa linked to INCREASED congestive heart failure in kidney studies

From studies published in this weeks New England Journal of Medicine.

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/547998

A finding:
According to Drs. Remuzzi and Ingelfinger, the most surprising finding of the CREATE study was that high target hemoglobin levels did not improve left ventricular hypertrophy and increased the risk for congestive heart failure in both trials.

[BThompson4]

Here is another summary of the findings.  Hope the link works.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_41431.html

[NYgirl]

It's one of those meds though - when you need it you NEED IT.

I've been on it for like 57 weeks now - the doctors want me off of it but....not much you can do.

I thank God for this drug and that I've never met anybody who has had these sides. It has saved the course of treatment for most of us.

[GrandOak]

Be thankful because if they pull you from the rescue med and you need it because of the anemia, then it usually means they're pulling you from tx as well.

[cuteus]

the warning is not to have youg hgb rise too fast or too high, about the same as with the anemia but in the opposite direction.  Too high hgb can make the blood viscous and risk cardiac problems.  It is a question of monitoring the CBC and adjust dosage to stabilize anemia without risking cardiac events.
Stay on top.  When my hgb went on the high side with procrit, i extended the time bt shots.

[mikesimon]

HCV Treatment-Related Thrombocytopenia Not Helped by Erythropoietin Therapy See:http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/547206

:At the end of 4 weeks, erythropoietin was found to alleviate the decrease in hemoglobin (10% versus 20%). However, platelet counts decreased to a mean of 142 G/L in the erythropoietin group compared with 182 G/L in the placebo group.
Erythropoietin treatment also induced a 40% increase in protease activated receptor 1 (PAR-1) which is associated with platelet secretion and aggregation. In fact, there was a 100% increase in platelet reactivity.
"Surprisingly," Dr. Peck-Radosavljevik told Reuters Health, "erythropoietin treatment resulted in lower platelet counts compared to control, but this potentially negative effect on platelet plug formation was rescued by PAR-1 upregulation. Primary hemostasis remains intact in these patients even with reduced platelet counts."
Altogether, the researchers conclude that erythropoietin "is not a useful option for short-term support of platelet production during antiviral therapy."

Mike