Loading...
On March 9, 2007, the FDA issued a public health advisory describing an increased risk for cardiovascular and thromboembolic events, as well as tumor progression, among patients receiving erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs). None of the study results cited in the advisory were specific to HIV-infected patients, who sometimes receive epoetin alfa to treat anemia. Nevertheless, the FDA recommends that, when starting ESA treatment, HIV-infected patients should have their hemoglobin levels measured weekly until they stabilize. In addition, the FDA recommends that clinicians take the following steps in all patients receiving ESAs:
Use the lowest effective dose to gradually raise the hemoglobin concentration to a level just sufficient to avoi…