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Study associates Baxter’s Revaclear dialyzer with less need for ESAs during hemodialysis
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Baxter International Inc.’s Revaclear dialyzer was associated with lower use of erythropoiesis-stimulating agent, according to an observational cohort study published online in the American Society for Artificial Internal Organs Journal.
When compared with the Optiflux 160 or Optiflux 180 dialyzer, Revaclear dialyzer use was associated with approximately 100 to 600 fewer units of ESA per hemodialysis session, and trended toward lower IV iron doses, while maintaining equivalent dialysis adequacy and hemoglobin concentrations, the study found.
“Maintaining hemoglobin levels using the lowest doses of ESA as possible in this patient population is important in preventing many cardiovascular complications and maintaining adequate energy levels,” said Maggie Gellens, MD, a medical director at Baxter and one of the authors of the study. “This study suggests that clinicians may be able to reduce patient exposure to ESAs without sacrificing hemoglobin levels.”
Based on the study findings, Baxter estimates that reducing ESA use by an average dose of 275 units represents potential savings of $4.39 (using 2016 WAC) per hemodialysis session. That equates to approximately $660 in savings per patient annually, given that a patient usually receives three dialysis sessions per week.
The propensity matched, retrospective study, which was funded by Baxter, evaluated the comparative effectiveness of commonly used dialyzers in the United States with respect to measures of dialysis treatment, anemia management, inflammation, and dialyzer clotting. The study was conducted with a large dialysis organization in the U.S., and analyzed 37,500 patient records for 12 months following initiation of hemodialysis using one of the three dialyzers included in the study. Eligible patients were propensity score-matched 1:1 on a range of baseline characteristics, including age, gender, race, body weight, dialysis access type, and co-morbidities such as diabetes, congestive heart failure and coronary artery disease, among others.