Document Detail


Effect of recombinant human erythropoietin and intravenous iron on anemia and disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  11708414     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether treatment of anemia of chronic disease (ACD) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with recombinant human erythropoietin (rHu-Epo) in combination with intravenous (i.v.) iron influences health related quality of life (HRQoL) and clinical outcome including disease activity. METHODS: Thirty patients with ACD and RA were treated with 150 IU/kg rHu-Epo twice weekly for 12 weeks. As well, in case of functional iron deficiency 200 mg of iron-sucrose per week was given intravenously. Vitality and fatigue as dimensions of HRQoL were evaluated by the vitality subscale of the Short Form-36 (SF-36-VT) and the Multidimensional Assessment of Fatigue (MAF). Muscle strength was measured by the Muscle Strength Index. RESULTS: All 28 patients completing the study responded to treatment; 23/28 patients developed functional iron deficiency and received i.v. iron (mean absolute dose 710 +/- 560 mg). Average hemoglobin concentration increased from 10.7 +/- 1.1 to 13.2 +/- 1.0 g/dl after a mean treatment period of 8.7 +/- 2.3 weeks. Muscle strength increased from 43.5 +/- 11.2 to 49.1 +/- 12.9 and SF-36-VT from 28.2% +/- 14.3% to 47.1% +/- 20.8%. while fatigue decreased (MAF from 34.7 +/- 9.3 to 25.0 +/- 11.3). Among the disease activity variables the number of swollen/tender joints, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, Disease Activity Score, and RA Disease Activity Index improved significantly during treatment. CONCLUSION: Treatment of ACD in RA patients with rHu-Epo and i.v. iron is safe and effective in correction of anemia, increases muscle strength. improves vitality, and lowers fatigue. In addition we observed a reduction of disease activity.
Authors:
J P Kaltwasser; U Kessler; R Gottschalk; G Stucki; B Möller
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Clinical Trial; Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  The Journal of rheumatology     Volume:  28     ISSN:  0315-162X     ISO Abbreviation:  J. Rheumatol.     Publication Date:  2001 Nov 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2001-11-15     Completed Date:  2002-04-04     Revised Date:  2004-11-17    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  7501984     Medline TA:  J Rheumatol     Country:  Canada    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  2430-6     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Medizinische Klinik III, Bereich Rheumatologie, J.W. Goethe-Universität, Frankfurt/Main, Germany. Kaltwasser@em.Uni-frankfurt.de
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adult
Aged
Anemia / drug therapy*,  etiology
Arthritis, Rheumatoid / complications,  drug therapy*,  physiopathology
Disability Evaluation
Erythropoietin, Recombinant / administration & dosage,  therapeutic use*
Female
Ferric Compounds / administration & dosage,  therapeutic use*
Health Status
Humans
Injections, Intravenous
Injections, Subcutaneous
Male
Middle Aged
Quality of Life
Severity of Illness Index
Treatment Outcome
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Erythropoietin, Recombinant; 0/Ferric Compounds; 8047-67-4/ferric oxide, saccharated

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