Erythropoietic Agents and Antibody-Mediated Anemias

The manufacturers of the erythropoietic agents Procrit, Aranesp and Epogen have provided updated information about certain antibody-mediated reactions in patients treated with these drugs.

Patients taking these drugs can produce antibodies to erythropoietin, resulting in loss of drug activity and pure red cell aplasia or severe anemia. This is most common in patients with chronic renal failure who receive these drugs subcutaneously.

The labeling now says that any patient who suddenly stops responding to Procrit, Aranesp or Epogen and who develops severe anemia and a low reticulocyte count should be evaluated. If you suspect an antibody-mediated anemia, stop using the product and contact the manufacturer to perform antibody assays on the patient’s blood.

If it’s found that the patient has developed antibody-mediated anemia, erythropoietic treatment should be permanently discontinued. These patients should not be switched to other erythropoietic proteins because their antibodies could cross-react with these products as well.

Duration : 0:1:15

Technorati Tags: Agents, anemia, Anemias, Antibody-Mediated, Aranesp, Epogen, Erythropoietic, FDA, patient, Procrit, Safety