Aranesp intravenously – pro
Lay Sumamry: Aranesp intravenously works as well as by injection under the skin.
Darebpoietin is FDA approved for sq administration unlike erytrhopoietin. However, there are situations in which IV adminsitration is more convenient for the patient, such as, for example, when there is on onging IV line for another reason. The two most common settings of this kind are the neonates and patients on dyalisis. The treatment of renal anaemia using erythropoiesis stimulating agents (ESAs) [darbepoetin alfa and recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) alfa or beta] is now a common clinical practice in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). There is evidence that both routes of administration result in similar blood levels and effectiveness. This evidence is sufficiently convincing for the pharamcologic standpoint to consider the IV route to be standard of care.
T L Warwood et al, Urinary excretion of darbepoetin after intravenous vs subcutaneous administration to preterm neonates Journal of Perinatology (2006) 26, 636–639.
Fernando Carrera, Lino Oliveira, Pedro Maia, Teresa Mendes and Candido Ferreira The efficacy of intravenous darbepoetin alfa administered once every 2 weeks in chronic kidney disease patients on haemodialysis Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation 2006 21(10):2846-2850
I. C. Macdougall, D. Padhi, and G. Jang
Pharmacology of darbepoetin alfa
Nephrol. Dial. Transplant., June 1, 2007; 22(suppl_4): iv2 – iv9.