Effect of achieved hemoglobin level on renal outcome in non-dialysis chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients receiving epoetin beta pegol: MIRcerA CLinical Evidence on Renal Survival in CKD patients with renal anemia (MIRACLE-CKD Study).

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Previous randomized-controlled trials have shown that targeting higher hemoglobin (Hb) levels using high dose of ESA in non-dialysis chronic kidney disease (NDCKD) patients resulted in poorer cardiovascular outcome; however, it remains unknown how high Hb levels achieved by ESA in clinical practice dose could affect renal outcome. METHODS: In a multicenter prospective observational study, Japanese NDCKD patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of ≥ 6 mL/min/1.73 m2 and renal anemia (Hb < 11 g/dL) treated with epoetin beta pegol (C.E.R.A.) for the first time were divided into two groups by Hb level (< 11 g/dL or ≥ 11 g/dL) in Week 12 of C.E.R.A. treatment (Week 12 Hb). Renal outcome was defined as time until the first occurrence of one of the following progression to renal replacement therapy, serum creatinine doubling, or eGFR falling below 6 mL/min/1.73 m2. The effect of Week 12 Hb on the onset of renal events was assessed by the Kaplan-Meier and multivariate Cox regression analyses. RESULTS: In the landmark analysis which included 2851 patients, Kaplan-Meier renal survival rate was 37.57% in the < 11 g/dL group and was significantly higher (51.47%) in the ≥ 11 g/dL group (P < 0.0001). Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed significantly higher risk of renal events in the < 11 g/dL group than in the ≥ 11 g/dL group (hazard ratio 1.26; 95% confidence interval 1.05-1.51; P = 0.0103). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that week 12 Hb levels ≥ 11 g/dL achieved with C.E.R.A. treatment were associated with better renal outcomes than Hb levels < 11 g/dL.