Prevalent and incident anaemia in PARADIGM-HF and effect of sacubitril/valsartan

Background

Anaemia is common in patients with HFrEF and is associated with poor clinical outcomes. Although they reduce rates of mortality and heart failure hospitalization, renin-angiotensin (RAS) blockers lower haemoglobin and may induce anaemia. Concomitant neprilysin inhibition might ameliorate this effect of RAS blockers.

Purpose

We investigated the effect of sacubitril/valsartan compared with enalapril on clinical outcomes, according to anaemia status, and on haemoglobin levels in PARADIGM-HF.

Methods

Patient characteristics and clinical outcomes were compared between patients with and without anaemia (defined as haemoglobin <120 g/L in women and <130 g/L in men) at baseline. We investigated the effect of randomized treatment (sacubitril/valsartan or enalapril) on clinical outcomes according to anaemia status at screening. We also examined the effect of treatment on change in haemoglobin from baseline and on the incidence of anaemia. The primary endpoint in PARADIGM-HF was the composite of heart failure hospitalization or cardiovascular death.

Results

Of 8239 participants with a baseline haemoglobin measurement, 1677 (20.4%) were anaemic. Compared to those without anaemia, patients with anaemia had a more severe heart failure profile, worse kidney function, greater neurohormonal derangement and worse clinical outcomes. Sacubitril/valsartan, compared to enalapril, reduced the risk of the primary endpoint similarly in patients with anaemia (HR 0.84, 95% CI 0.71–1.00) and without anaemia (HR 0.78, 95% CI 0.71–0.87), p-value for interaction=0.478. Between baseline and 12 months, haemoglobin decreased by 1.5 (95% CI 1.7 to 1.2) g/L with sacubitril/valsartan compared with 2.3 (2.6 to 2.0) g/L with enalapril group: mean difference 0.8 (95% CI 0.5 to 1.2) g/L, p<0.001. The between-treatment difference apparent by 12 months, persisted up to 36 months. Patients assigned to sacubitril/valsartan were less likely to develop new anaemia at 12 months [321 of 2806 (11.4%)] compared to patients randomized to enalapril [440 of 2384 (15.6%)], odds ratio 0.70 (95% CI 0.60–0.81), p<0.001.

Conclusions

Compared to enalapril, sacubitril/valsartan reduced mortality and hospitalization in HFrEF patients with and without anaemia. Haemoglobin decreased less with sacubitril/valsartan and the incidence of new anaemia was lower in the sacubitril/valsartan group compared with the enalapril group.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: Private company. Main funding source(s): PARADIGM-HF was funded by Novartis.

Iron sucrose causes greater proteinuria than ferric gluconate in non-dialysis chronic kidney disease

Non-dextran intravenous (i.v.) iron preparations seem to differentially affect proteinuria in patients with chronic kidney disease. To study effects of ferric gluconate and iron sucrose on proteinuria, we conducted a crossover trial in 12 patients with stage 3-4 chronic kidney disease. These patients were randomized to receive the same dose of either drug 1 week apart. Urine samples were obtained immediately before and at frequent intervals after the drug. The urine total protein/creatinine ratio was significantly greater after iron sucrose than ferric gluconate treatment with the effect noted within 15 min post-infusion. Furthermore, when iron sucrose was given first, a significantly greater protein/creatinine ratio was seen subsequently with ferric gluconate than with the reverse order of treatment. The urine albumin/creatinine ratio was also significantly greater with iron sucrose than with ferric gluconate. There was no significant difference, however, between the two i.v. irons in the measured urine N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase/creatinine ratio. Although our study showed that acutely, iron sucrose increased proteinuria, the long-term effects of repeated i.v. non-dextran iron on kidney function requires further study.

Predictors of the response to treatment in anemic hemodialysis patients with high serum ferritin and low transferrin saturation

Treating hemodialysis patients to combat anemia corrects hemoglobin but exacerbates iron deficiency by utilizing iron stores. Patients needing iron should receive this by intravenous (i.v.) means. The Dialysis patients' Response to IV iron with Elevated ferritin (DRIVE) trial investigated the role of i.v. iron in anemic patients with high ferritin, low transferrin saturation, and adequate epoetin doses. We examined whether baseline iron and inflammation markers predict the response of hemoglobin to treatment. Patients (134) were randomized to no added iron or to i.v. ferric gluconate for eight consecutive hemodialysis sessions spanning 6 weeks with epoetin increased by 25% in both groups. The patients started with hemoglobin less than or equal to 11 g/dl, ferritin between 500 and 1200 ng/ml, and transferrin saturation of less than 25%. Significantly, patients with a reticulocyte hemoglobin content greater than or equal to 31.2 pg were over five times more likely to achieve a clinically significant increase in hemoglobin of greater than 2 g/dl. Lower reticulocyte hemoglobin contents did not preclude a response to i.v. iron. Significantly higher transferrin saturation or lower C-reactive protein but not ferritin or soluble transferrin receptor levels predicted a greater response; however their influence was not clinically significant in either group. We conclude that none of the studied markers is a good predictor of response to anemia treatment in this patient sub-population.

Association of different intravenous iron preparations with risk of bacteremia in maintenance hemodialysis patients

AIM

In vitro evidence suggests that different intravenous iron (i.v. Fe) preparations may be associated with different infection rates. This observational study was to determine if different bacteremia rates are associated with different types or amounts of i.v. Fe preparations.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospective, single-center study was carried out from April 2001 November 2002, a period in which a global switch from ferric gluconate (FG) to iron sucrose (IS) occurred. During Period I (April 2001 - January 2002) FG was the only i.v. Fe administered in our hemodialysis unit. During Period II (February 2002 - November 2002) IS was the only i.v. Fe administered in our unit. Group A (n = 63) received hemodialysis during both Period I and Period II. Group B (n = 41) received hemodialysis either during Period I or Period II.

RESULTS

More bacteremic episodes occurred while IS than while FG was being administered. The adjusted bacteremia incidence rate ratios (IRRs) associated with use of IS vs. FG were 2.92 (95% CI, 1.01 - 8.5) and 2.84 (95% CI 1.32 - 6.09) in Groups A and B, respectively. The adjusted bacteremia IRRs associated with receiving > 2,000 mg of i.v. Fe were 2.42 (95% CI 1.03 - 5.6) and 1.54 (95% CI 0.43 - 5.69) in Groups A and B, respectively. Use of catheters as hemodialysis access increased bacteremia risk in both groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Use of iron sucrose is associated with higher bacteremia rates than ferric gluconate. The potential association between the cumulative amount of i.v. Fe administered and bacteremia risk is unclear. Randomized clinical trials are needed to verify our findings.