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Darbepoetin alpha for the treatment of anaemia in low-intermediate risk myelodysplastic syndromes

  1. Pellegrino Musto1,†,
  2. Francesco Lanza2,†,
  3. Enrico Balleari3,
  4. Alberto Grossi4,
  5. Antonietta Falcone1,
  6. Grazia Sanpaolo1,
  7. Carlo Bodenizza1,
  8. Potito Rosario Scalzulli1,
  9. Antonio La Sala1,
  10. Diana Campioni2,
  11. Riccardo Ghio3,
  12. Nicola Cascavilla1,
  13. Angelo Michele Carella5

Article first published online: 2 DEC 2004

DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2141.2004.05288.x

Issue

British Journal of Haematology

British Journal of Haematology

Volume 128, Issue 2, pages 204–209, January 2005

Additional Information

How to Cite

Musto, P., Lanza, F., Balleari, E., Grossi, A., Falcone, A., Sanpaolo, G., Bodenizza, C., Scalzulli, P. R., Sala, A. L., Campioni, D., Ghio, R., Cascavilla, N. and Carella, A. M. (2005), Darbepoetin alpha for the treatment of anaemia in low-intermediate risk myelodysplastic syndromes. British Journal of Haematology, 128: 204–209. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2141.2004.05288.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Hematology and Stem Cell Transplantation Unit, IRCCS ‘Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza’ Hospital, S. Giovanni Rotondo, Italy

  2. 2

    Hematology Institute, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy

  3. 3

    Department of Internal Medicine, Hematology–Oncology Section, University of Genova, Genova, Italy

  4. 4

    ‘Leonardo da Vinci’ Institute, Firenze, Italy

  5. 5

    Hematology, Unit, ‘S. Martino’ Hospital, Genova, Italy

  1. †

    These authors contributed equally to this study.

*Dr Pellegrino Musto, Hematology and Stem Cell Transplantation Unit, IRCCS ‘Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza’ Hospital, S. Giovanni Rotondo, Italy. E-mail: p.musto@tin.it

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 2 DEC 2004
  2. Article first published online: 2 DEC 2004
  3. Received 17 July 2004; accepted for publication 4 October 2004

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Keywords:

  • darbepoetin;
  • erythropoietin;
  • myelodysplastic syndromes;
  • anaemia;
  • transfusion

Summary

Thirty-seven anaemic subjects with low-to-intermediate risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) received the highly glycosylated, long-acting erythropoiesis-stimulating molecule darbepoetin-alpha (DPO) at the single, weekly dose of 150 μg s.c. for at least 12 weeks. Fifteen patients (40·5%) achieved an erythroid response (13 major and two minor improvements, respectively, according to International Working Group criteria). Such results are currently maintained after 7–22 months in 13 of the responders, one of whom required iron substitutive therapy during the treatment. One patient relapsed after 4 months. Another responder died after 5 months because of causes unrelated to the treatment. No relevant side-effects were recorded. At multivariate analysis, significant predictive factors of response were baseline serum levels of endogenous erythropoietin <100 IU/l, absent or limited transfusional needs, no excess of blasts and hypoplastic bone marrow. This study suggests that DPO, at the dose and schedule used, can be safely given in low-intermediate risk MDS and may be effective in a significant proportion of these patients.

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