Efficacy of roxadustat in maintenance hemodialysis patients with erythropoietin-hyporesponsive anemia

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of roxadustat in hemodialysis patients with erythropoietin (EPO) hypo-responsive anemia. Materials and methods: This retro-spective study included 55 hemodialysis pa-tients with erythropoietin hypo-responsive anemia at the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from January to December 2020. We observed their hemoglobin (Hb) changes, inflammatory factors, and adverse reactions before and after 12 weeks of roxadustat treatment. Results: Among the 55 patients, the average age was 60.75 +/- 13.96 years old, and the median dial-ysis age was 48 months. All patients were tak-en off EPO and switched to roxadustat during the follow-up period. Compared with base-line, patients' Hb was significantly increased (90.64 +/- 20.01 g/L, 98.52 +/- 15.89 g/L, 104.34 +/- 19.15 g/L, and 107.02 +/- 20.54 g/L, respectively) (p < 0.05). At 12 weeks of roxadustat treatment, 34 patients (61.82%) met the tar -get Hb levels (100 - 130 g/L). The multivari-ate logistic analysis showed that Hb response positively correlated with the Hb level before roxadustat treatment (p = 0.046), while re-sponding well to roxadustat negatively cor-related with blood platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and duration of dialysis (p = 0.029 and p = 0.046) in patients with EPO hypo-responsive anemia. Conclusion: Roxadustat could effectively improve anemia; the PLR and dialysis age were independent predictors of roxadustat efficacy in dialysis patients with EPO hypo-responsive anemia.

Automated summary

The study aimed to investigate the efficacy of roxadustat in treating EPO hypo-responsive anemia in hemodialysis patients. The results showed that roxadustat effectively improved anemia, and the platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio and duration of dialysis were independent predictors of roxadustat efficacy.