NIMO-CKD-UK: a real-world, observational study of iron isomaltoside in patients with iron deficiency anaemia and chronic kidney disease.

BACKGROUND: Intravenous iron is often used to treat iron deficiency anaemia in non-dialysis chronic kidney disease (ND-CKD), but the optimal dosing regimen remains unclear. We evaluated the impact of high- versus low-dose intravenous iron isomaltoside on the probability of retreatment with intravenous iron in iron-deficient ND-CKD patients. METHODS: This real-world, prospective, observational study collected data from 256 ND-CKD patients treated for anaemia in the UK. Following an initial course of iron isomaltoside, patients were followed for ≥12 months. Iron dose and the need for retreatment were determined at the investigators' discretion. The primary study outcome was the need for retreatment at 52 weeks compared between patients who received >1000 mg of iron during Course 1 and those who received ≤1000 mg. Safety was evaluated through adverse drug reactions. RESULTS: The probability of retreatment at Week 52 was significantly lower in the >1000 mg iron group (n = 58) versus the ≤1000 mg group (n = 198); hazard ratio (95% confidence interval [CI]): 0.46 (0.20, 0.91); p = 0.012. Mean (95% CI) haemoglobin increased by 6.58 (4.94, 8.21) g/L in the ≤1000 mg group and by 10.59 (7.52, 13.66) g/L in the >1000 mg group (p = 0.024). Changes in other blood and iron parameters were not significantly different between the two groups. Administering >1000 mg of iron isomaltoside saved 8.6 appointments per 100 patients compared to ≤1000 mg. No serious adverse drug reactions were reported. Of the patients who received ≤1000 mg of iron in this study, 82.3% were eligible for a dose >1000 mg. CONCLUSIONS: The >1000 mg iron isomaltoside regimen reduced the probability of retreatment, achieved a greater haemoglobin response irrespective of erythropoiesis-stimulating agent treatment, and reduced the total number of appointments required, compared to the ≤1000 mg regimen. Many of the patients who received ≤1000 mg of iron were eligible for >1000 mg, indicating that there was considerable underdosing in this study. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02546154 , 10 September 2015.

A randomized, crossover design study of sevelamer carbonate powder and sevelamer hydrochloride tablets in chronic kidney disease patients on haemodialysis.

BACKGROUND: Sevelamer carbonate is an improved, buffered form of sevelamer hydrochloride developed for the treatment of hyperphosphataemia in CKD patients. Sevelamer carbonate formulated as a powder for oral suspension presents a novel, patient-friendly alternative to tablet phosphate binders. This study compared the safety and efficacy of sevelamer carbonate powder with sevelamer hydrochloride tablets in CKD patients on haemodialysis. METHODS: This was a multi-centre, open-label, randomized, crossover design study. Thirty-one haemodialysis patients were randomly assigned to either sevelamer carbonate powder or sevelamer hydrochloride tablets for 4 weeks followed by a crossover to the other regimen for an additional 4 weeks. RESULTS: The mean serum phosphorus was 1.6 +/- 0.5 mmol/L (5.0 +/- 1.5 mg/dL) during sevelamer carbonate powder treatment and 1.7 +/- 0.4 mmol/L (5.2 +/- 1.1 mg/dL) during sevelamer hydrochloride tablet treatment. Sevelamer carbonate powder and sevelamer hydrochloride tablets are equivalent in controlling serum phosphorus; the geometric least square mean ratio was 0.95 (90% CI 0.87-1.03). No statistically significant or clinically meaningful differences were observed in calcium x phosphorus product and lipid levels between sevelamer carbonate powder and sevelamer hydrochloride tablets. Serum bicarbonate levels increased 2.7 +/- 3.7 mmol/L (2.7 +/- 3.7 mEq/L) during sevelamer carbonate treatment. No statistically significant change in bicarbonate was observed during sevelamer hydrochloride treatment. Sevelamer carbonate powder and sevelamer hydrochloride were well tolerated during this study. CONCLUSIONS: Sevelamer carbonate powder and sevelamer hydrochloride tablets are equivalent in controlling serum phosphorus and well tolerated in CKD patients on haemodialysis. Bicarbonate levels improved only during sevelamer carbonate treatment. Sevelamer carbonate powder should provide a welcomed new option for the treatment of hyperphosphataemia for CKD patients on dialysis.