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Query: UMLS:C0002871 (anemia)
 52,094 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Proper management of the anemia of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) requires chronic monitoring of an interrelated set of variables that can affect the erythrokinetic response. In most cases, therapeutic interventions should be determined on the basis of serial trends in laboratory values, thereby providing a historical pattern of clinical response. This article reviews the rationale for using laboratory trend analysis to manage anemia. A methodology for categorizing patterns in hemoglobin and hematocrit response to identify probable causes of hypo- or hyper-response to Epoetin alfa therapy is provided.
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PMID:Managing anemia using laboratory trend analysis. Case study of the anemic patient. 1083 75

An increasing number of dialysis facilities are empowering nurses to coordinate, monitor, and manage most aspects of anemia-related care. Careful analysis of the trends in laboratory values can provide nurses with a valuable assessment tool to guide therapeutic decisions. This article reviews several proven methods for analyzing laboratory trends and uses case studies to illustrate how to interpret these trends to identify potential etiologies that can cause hyporesponse to Epoetin alfa therapy.
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PMID:Tools for analyzing trends in anemia management case study of the anemic patient. 1085 92

To evaluate the effect of epoetin alfa on the quality of life (QOL) of HIV-infected patients in the community setting, 221 anaemic (haemoglobin < or = 11 g/dl) HIV-positive patients from community-based treatment centres and physicians' offices were treated with epoetin alfa (100-300 units/kg subcutaneously 3 times a week) in a 4-month, open-label, non-randomized, phase IV trial. Epoetin alfa therapy significantly (P<0.01) increased and maintained haemoglobin levels (mean increase=2.5 g/dl; n=207); the improvement in haemoglobin levels was independent of changes in CD4+ cell counts. Transfusion requirements were also significantly reduced from 20% to 5% of patients (P<0.01). Mean total QOL score measured by the Functional Assessment of HIV Infection (FAHI) scale and Physical Well-Being subscale score improved significantly (P<0.05). QOL improvements associated with increases in haemoglobin were independent of changes in CD4+ counts and baseline anaemia severity. Adverse events observed during epoetin alfa therapy were consistent with HIV disease and not likely due to the drug. Epoetin alfa therapy should be considered a treatment option for HIV-infected patients with mild-to-moderate anaemia.
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PMID:Epoetin alfa therapy for anaemia in HIV-infected patients: impact on quality of life. 1105 37

Data derived from studies conducted before 1996 consistently showed that anemia was a common occurrence in patients with human immunodeficiency (HIV) Infection and an Independent risk factor for early death. Correction of anemia was associated with reversal of this increased risk. Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has been shown to reduce HIV disease progression and mortality. In the HAART era, HIV-related anemia is still common and independently associated with decreased survival, with a decreased risk of mortality associated with recovery from anemia. Epoetin alfa treatment has been shown to correct anemia and significantly improve quality of life (QOL) in patients with HIV disease. Additional data on the effect of correction of anemia with epoetin alfa treatment on survival in patients with HIV infection are needed.
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PMID:Anemia and human immunodeficiency virus disease in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy. 1106 52

Epoetin (Epo) is physiologically present in the human body, stimulating erythropoiesis from bone marrow. Anemia is observed in cancer patients submitted to high-dose chemotherapy (HDCT), mainly caused by myelosuppression. Epoetin alfa has been widely used to treat the anemia that develops in the HDCT setting. Controlled studies in patients with hematologic malignancies or solid tumors who received Epo following HDCT have shown a decreased red blood cell transfusion requirement at least in patients receiving allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT), while results in patients receiving autologous BMT have been disappointing. The administration of Epo before HDCT, in a period when bone marrow is still responsive to growth factors, may represent a new strategy aimed at decreasing the degree of anemia in these patients. A combination of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor and Epo has proved to be effective in mobilizing stem cell and committed myeloid/erythroid precursors.
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PMID:[The use of erythropoietin alpha in programs of high-dose chemotherapy]. 1119 90

A wide variety of prescribed and over-the-counter (OTC) agents can affect the production or viability of red blood cells, thereby contributing to anemia. An apparent hyporesponse to Epoetin alfa therapy in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients can sometimes be traced to a medication prescribed to treat a comorbid condition. The anemic potential of many of these agents has been defined and can often be anticipated or avoided by examining and modifying the regimen. Nurses can help assess and prevent medicine-related hyporesponse to Epoetin alfa by obtaining thorough histories and providing ongoing counseling on the need to minimize exposure to substances that contribute to anemia. A case study is provided to illustrate the use of nursing assessment skills to identify potential drug-related hyporesponse to Epoetin alfa.
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PMID:Assessing the impact of concomitant therapies on anemia in dialysis patients. Case study of the anemic patient. 1124 31

Effects of epoetin alfa on transfusions, haemoglobin (Hb) and quality of life (QOL) were evaluated in a placebo-controlled study of 145 patients with multiple myeloma and anaemia (Hb < 11 g/dl). During the 12-week, double-blind phase, patients received 150 IU/kg epoetin alfa or a matching volume of placebo subcutaneously three times weekly; the dose (or volume) was doubled at week 4 if Hb response was inadequate. Patients completing this phase could enter the subsequent optional 12-week phase of open-label epoetin alfa treatment. During double-blind treatment, epoetin alfa significantly decreased the incidence of transfusion compared with placebo (28% vs. 47%, P = 0.017), regardless of patients' transfusion history, and increased mean Hb (1.8 g/dl vs. 0.0 g/dl, P < 0.001). Univariate analysis showed significant (P </= 0.05) improvement in more QOL measures with epoetin alfa than with placebo; multivariate analysis discerned no between-treatment differences. Significantly (P = 0.038) more epoetin alfa vs. placebo patients had improved performance scores. At the end of the open-label treatment phase, patients who had continued epoetin alfa maintained Hb status, and placebo patients who were switched to epoetin alfa had mean Hb increases of 2.4 g/dl. Adverse events were similar between treatment groups. Epoetin alfa proved effective and well tolerated for treating anaemia in patients with multiple myeloma.
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PMID:Efficacy of epoetin alfa in the treatment of anaemia of multiple myeloma. 1132 97

Combination drug therapy and enhanced patient management techniques result in increased survival for many AIDS patients. This phenomenon has brought the issue of fatigue, a common and difficult side effect of HIV/AIDS treatment, to the forefront. Three-quarters of the AIDS patients surveyed in a recent study indicated that fatigue negatively affects their quality of life and influences their willingness to continue aggressive treatment. New advances for combating fatigue include the use of nutritional therapy, anti-depressants, anti-infectives, medications that boost the production of red blood cells, hormone replacement, exercise, massage, and acupuncture. The most common source of fatigue in HIV-positive patients is anemia, which also causes shortness of breath and dizziness. Anti-HIV medications may inhibit red blood cell production. An alternative treatment, Epoetin alfa, works by increasing low levels of naturally producing erythropoietin, a protein manufactured in the kidneys. Fatigue resulting from low testosterone levels can be treated with anabolic steroids. Poorly functioning adrenal glands can be the cause of fatigue in patients with advanced disease. Taking hydrocortisone pills is often effective. Depression is the fourth most common cause of fatigue. Antidepressants work well without traditional side effects.
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PMID:More awareness needed in treatment of fatigue. 1136 53

Researchers and physicians are becoming more aware of the importance of quality-of-life for HIV/AIDS patients who are surviving longer than was previously possible. Fatigue ranks as one of the most devastating side effects of HIV treatment. A survey of HIV/AIDS patients indicates that fatigue prevents them from working or continuing aggressive treatment. Only 37 percent of physicians, however, were aware of their patients' struggle with fatigue. Recent advances in HIV treatment have included the area of fatigue management. The most common sources of fatigue are anemia, hormone deficiencies, depression, and lack of exercise. New advances for combating fatigue include the use of nutritional therapy, anti-depressants, anti-infectives, medications that boost the production of red blood cells, hormone replacement, exercise, massage, and acupuncture. Anti-HIV medications may inhibit red blood cell production. An alternative treatment among HIV-positive patients is the drug Epoetin alfa which works by increasing low levels of naturally producing erythropoietin, a protein manufactured in the kidneys. Fatigue can also result from low testosterone levels, which can be treated with anabolic steroids. Poorly functioning adrenal glands can be the cause of fatigue in patients with advanced disease. Taking hydrocortisone pills is often effective. Depression is the fourth most common cause of fatigue. Antidepressants work well without traditional side effects. Finally, exercise is very important in the treatment of fatigue. HIV-positive people who attend exercise classes find benefits that are both physiological and psychological.
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PMID:Fighting fatigue requires battle on many fronts. 1136 58

People with advanced HIV infection and anemia are at greater risk of complications from red blood cell transfusions than those who are not HIV-positive. The advent of synthetic hematopoietic growth factors has provided an alternative for managing anemia. Epoetin alfa is a recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEpo), which is an example of a hematopoietic growth factor, and it was approved for treatment of anemia in HIV-positive patients in 1991. The origin and makeup of rHuEpo are examined, as are the effects of regulating its levels with different drug treatments. Because the effects of blood transfusions to raise hematocrit levels are short-lived, fewer transfusions are being performed in favor of using rHuEpo. Also, side effects of anemia, as well as statistics of survival are somewhat improved by this treatment. Several possible causes for anemia in HIV-infected patients are cited, including atypical mycobacteria, toxoplasma gondii, and side effects resulting from drug therapy. Additional studies are examined.
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PMID:Recombinant human erythropoietin for HIV-related anemia. 1136 57


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