Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Darbepoetin treatment for anemia in cats with kidney disease
By Chalhoub, S et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2012·Internal Medicine Department, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: The use of darbepoetin to stimulate erythropoiesis in anemia of chronic kidney disease in cats: 25 cases.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of 25 cats with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and anemia were treated with darbepoetin, a medication that helps stimulate red blood cell production. Out of these cats, 14 showed improvement in their red blood cell levels after receiving the treatment, especially those on a higher dose. Some cats experienced side effects like vomiting, high blood pressure, seizures, and fever, but overall, darbepoetin was found to be an effective option for managing anemia related to kidney disease in cats.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND: Anemia is present in 30-65% in cats with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and few long-term treatment options exist. Darbepoetin is effective in treating anemia of kidney disease in humans and may be used in cats. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the use of darbepoetin, a recombinant analog of human erythropoietin, to stimulate erythropoiesis, and to effectively treat anemia of kidney disease in cats. ANIMALS: Twenty-five of 66 cats that received ≥ 2 doses of darbepoetin at the Animal Medical Center between January 2005 and December 2009 were included in this study. METHODS: Cats were included in the study if they received darbepoetin and follow-up data were available for at least 56 days and had CKD as a primary clinical diagnosis. Cats were excluded if they were treated with darbepoetin but did not have kidney disease. Response to treatment was defined as reaching or exceeding a target packed red blood cell volume or hematocrit of 25%. RESULTS: Fourteen of 25 cats responded. Thirteen of those 14 cats received a dosage of 1 μg/kg/wk or higher. Presumptive adverse effects included vomiting, hypertension, seizures, and fever. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Darbepoetin is effective for treatment of anemia of kidney disease in cats. Pure red cell aplasia appears to be less common with darbepoetin than with epoetin usage.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22296687/