Roxadustat Effectively Treats Renal Anemia in Patients with Systemic Macroinflammation

A retrospective cohort study has demonstrated the efficacy of roxadustat, a first-in-class treatment for renal anemia, in patients with systemic macroinflammation. 

The study enrolled 107 patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), dividing them into three groups based on high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels: 

•    non-inflammation (NI)

•    microinflammation (MI)

•    macroinflammation (MA)

Patients were treated with roxadustat three times a week for 52 weeks.

The study found that roxadustat significantly increased hemoglobin levels across all groups, with no significant differences in hemoglobin responses between the groups, even for those with macroinflammation (MA). At both 12 and 52 weeks, the hemoglobin response rate in the MA group was comparable to the NI group, indicating that roxadustat's effect was independent of baseline hsCRP levels.

Additionally, roxadustat was shown to significantly reduce ferritin and serum iron levels, while increasing total iron-binding capacity in all groups, with no significant differences between them. This suggests that roxadustat is effective in improving anemia regardless of the level of systemic inflammation.

In conclusion, roxadustat is an effective treatment for anemia in CKD patients, including those with systemic macroinflammation, offering a promising therapeutic option for this challenging patient population.