Roxadustat is more beneficial than rHuEPO in facilitating the regression of left ventricular hypertrophy in haemodialysis patients

A recent study found that roxadustat is more beneficial than recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) in reducing left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in haemodialysis (HD) patients. This study’s results were published in the Journal of Internal Medicine. 
In this prospective, multi-centre, randomized trial, 114 participants were enrolled and randomized to either the roxadustat group or the rHuEPO group in a 1:1 ratio. The dosage of both treatment regimens was adjusted to achieve a haemoglobin level of 10.0-12.0 g per dL for the patients. The primary endpoint of the study was to evaluate the change in left ventricular mass index (LVMI, g/m2) measured through echocardiography from the beginning to the end of the 12-month period.
The median duration of dialysis was 33 months and the roxadustat group showed a decrease in LVMI from 116.18 ± 27.84 to 110.70 ± 25.74 g/m2. On the other hand, the rHuEPO group experienced an increase in LVMI from 109.35 ± 23.41 to 114.99 ± 28.46 g/m2. Notably, there was a significant difference in the change of LVMI between the two groups [-5.48 (-11.60 to 0.65) versus 5.65 (0.74 to 10.55)]. The roxadustat group exhibited superior changes in left ventricular mass, 6-minute walk test and the end-diastolic volume. 
Thus, it can be concluded that in HD patients, roxadustat proves to be more advantageous than rHuEPO in regression of LVH.