International Journal of STD & AIDS > Volume 11, Number 10 > Pp. 659-665

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Original Articles

Epoetin alfa therapy for anaemia in HIV-infected patients: impact on quality of life

Donald I Abrams, Corklin Steinhart and Robert Frascino

UCSF Positive Health Program, San Francisco General Hospital, San Francisco, California; Mercy Hospital, Miami, Florida; Stanford University Medical School, Palo Alto, California, USA

To evaluate the effect of epoetin alfa on the quality of life (QOL) of HIVinfected patients in the community setting, 221 anaemic (haemoglobin 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.

Key Words: ANAEMIA • EPOETIN ALFA • QUALITY OF LIFE • HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS HIV

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