Efficacy of Erythropoiesis-Stimulating Agents and Their Effect on Quality of Life in Anemic Patients with Lymphoproliferative Diseases

Aim. To study the effect of different erythropoiesis-stimulating agents and to assess their influence on quality of life in anemic patients with lymphoproliferative diseases. Methods. The study included 137 patients with lymphoproliferative diseases (Burkitt’s lymphoma, B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia, multiple myeloma) and anemia, who were distributed to 2 groups. The first group consisted of 90 patients who received chemotherapy and erythropoiesis-stimulating agents [epoetinum alpha 40 000 IU once a week (n=41) or epoetinum beta 30 000 IU once a week (n=27) or darbaepoetinum alpha 500 μg once every third week (n=22)]. The treatment duration varied from 4 to 20 weeks (mean 9.3±4.1 weeks). The second (control) group included 47 patients with comparable baseline clinical and hematological characteristics receiving only chemotherapy. Patients were estimated as treatment responders if there was an increase of hemoglobin level by 20 g/L or hemoglobin level reached at least 110 g/L. All patients were administered FACT-An (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy, Anemia scale) questionnaire to assess quality of life. Results. In patients receiving erythropoiesis-stimulating agents the positive treatment response was more frequent compared to the control group (68.9 и 29.8% correspondingly). The number of patients requiring erythrocytes transfusion decreased from 29 to 10 (34.5%) in the first group and from 14 to 8 (57.1%) in the control group. There was no significant differences found in comparing different erythropoiesis-stimulating agents. The positive response was observed in 68.3% of patients treated with epoetinum alpha, 70.1% - epoetinum beta, 68.2% - darbaepoetinum alpha. The significant increase in quality of life measured by FACT-An was observed in erythropoiesis-stimulating agents responders. Conclusion. The administration of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents in patients with lymphoproliferative diseases and anemia is an effective way of controlling anemia, significantly reducing the need for erythrocytes transfusion and improving quality of life.