II. Indications
- See Erythropoietin
- Anemia of Chronic Renal Failure (Hemoglobin <10 g/dl)
- Anemia of Myelosuppressive Cancer Chemotherapy (not intended for cure, Hemoglobin <10 g/dl)
- Perioperative non-cardiovascular surgery patients to avoid or reduce Blood Transfusion
- See resources below for protocol
III. Contraindications
- See Erythropoietin
IV. Mechanism
- See Erythropoietin
V. Precautions
- Not a substitute for Blood Products in acute severe, symptomatic Anemia
- Avoid Hemoglobin targets above 11 g/dl (higher risk of cardiovascular and thrombotic events)
- Use the lowest effective dose
-
Iron Supplementation if needed
- Check for Iron Deficiency before administration
VI. Medications
- Available in single dose 1 ml, preservative-free vials ranging from 2000 to 40,000 units
- Multiple dose vials contain Benzyl Alcohol and are containdicated in pregnancy, Lactation and infants
VII. Dosing: Adults
-
Anemia of Chronic Renal Failure
- Start 50 to 100 units/kg IV/SQ three times per week
- Indicated for Hemoglobin <10 g/dl
- Stop if Hemoglobin >10 g/dl (or >11 g/dl if on Hemodialysis)
-
Anemia of Myelosuppressive Cancer Chemotherapy (not intended for cure)
- Start 150 to 300 units/kg SQ three times per week OR
- Start 40,000 units SQ once per week
- Indicated for Hemoglobin <10 g/dl AND >=2 months planned of myelosuppression
VIII. Dosing: Children
-
Anemia of Chronic Renal Failure on Hemodialysis (age 1 month to 16 years)
- Start 50 units/kg IV or SQ three times weekly
- Indicated for Hemoglobin <10 g/dl
- Stop if Hemoglobin >12 g/dl
-
Anemia of Myelosuppressive Cancer Chemotherapy (age >=5 years)
- Give 600 units/kg IV each week until Chemotherapy completed
IX. Adverse Effects
- See Erythropoietin
X. Safety
- Unknown safety in pregnancy
- Unknown safety in Lactation
XI. Resources
- Epoetin Alfa (DailyMed)
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Related Studies
Definition (NCI_NCI-GLOSS) | A substance that is made in the laboratory and stimulates the bone marrow to make red blood cells. It is a type of antianemic and a type of recombinant human erythropoietin. |
Definition (NCI) | A recombinant therapeutic agent which is chemically identical to or similar to the endogenous cytokine human erythropoietin (EPO). Produced primarily by cells of the peritubular capillary endothelium of the kidney in response to hypoxia, circulating EPO binds to EPO receptors on the surface of committed erythroid progenitors in the bone marrow resulting in their replication and maturation into functional erythrocytes. |
Definition (PDQ) | A recombinant therapeutic agent which is chemically identical to or similar to the endogenous cytokine human erythropoietin (EPO). Produced primarily by cells of the peritubular capillary endothelium of the kidney in response to hypoxia, circulating EPO binds to EPO receptors on the surface of committed erythroid progenitors in the bone marrow resulting in their replication and maturation into functional erythrocytes. Check for "http://www.cancer.gov/Search/ClinicalTrialsLink.aspx?id=41102&idtype=1" active clinical trials or "http://www.cancer.gov/Search/ClinicalTrialsLink.aspx?id=41102&idtype=1&closed=1" closed clinical trials using this agent. ("http://nciterms.nci.nih.gov:80/NCIBrowser/ConceptReport.jsp?dictionary=NCI_Thesaurus&code=C2695" NCI Thesaurus) |
Concepts | Pharmacologic Substance (T121) , Amino Acid, Peptide, or Protein (T116) |
MSH | D019322 , C554041 |
SnomedCT | 108964008, 386947003 |
LNC | LA18620-7 |
Swedish | Epoetin alfa |
Finnish | Epoetiini alfa |
Japanese | エポエチンα, エポエチンアルファ |
English | Erythropoietin, ERYTHROPOIETIN, epoetin alfa recombinant, 1-165-Erythropoietin (human clone lambdaHEPOFL13 protein moiety), glycoform alpha, epoetin alfa, recombinant 1-165 erythropoietin, glycoform alpha, epoetin alfa [Chemical/Ingredient], Epoetin alfa, Epoetin alfa product, Epoetin alfa (product), Epoetin alfa (substance), Epoetin Alfa, EPO, EPOETIN ALFA,RECOMBINANT |
Spanish | epoetina alfa (producto), epoetina alfa (sustancia), epoetina alfa |
Ontology: Epogen (C0700704)
Concepts | Pharmacologic Substance (T121) , Hormone (T125) , Amino Acid, Peptide, or Protein (T116) , Immunologic Factor (T129) |
MSH | C554041 |
English | Epogen, epoetin (Epogen), epogen, Amgen brand of epoetin alpha |
Ontology: Procrit (C0733467)
Concepts | Pharmacologic Substance (T121) , Amino Acid, Peptide, or Protein (T116) |
English | Procrit, procrit |