A Safety Study of Pentoxifylline for the Treatment of Anemia

End Stage Renal Disease Clinical Trial

Official title: A Randomized Multi-Center Study to Determine the Safety and Efficacy of Erythropoietin Plus Pentoxifylline Versus Erythropoietin Alone for the Treatment of Anemia in Subjects With End Stage Renal Disease on Maintenance Hemodialysis

Status Terminated

Clinical Trial Summary

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients have increased levels of inflammation and oxidative stress, which in turn contribute to anemia and cardiovascular disease.

Pentoxifylline is known to have anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties, and has shown promise in improving the treatment of patients with anemia. This study will examine the use of pentoxifylline for the treatment of anemia in chronic kidney disease.

Clinical Trial Description

Treatment of the anemia of renal failure has been revolutionized by the use of erythropoietin and other ESAs (erythropoiesis-stimulating agent). Concerns with ESA use include a substantial number of End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) patients with ESA-resistant anemia, and a growing body of evidence of potential negative effects of high doses of ESA use, including increased mortality and increased rate of tumor growth in cancer patients.

There are only a couple of small studies in the literature examining the effects of pentoxifylline on anemia in patients with renal failure. The results are limited by the very small number of patients. There is clearly a need for a larger, prospective, clinical trial of pentoxifylline in ESRD patients, not limited to those with ESA-resistant anemia. This would be the first prospective, randomized clinical trial of this size to study pentoxifylline for the treatment of anemia in chronic kidney disease. ;

Study Design

Allocation: Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Safety/Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment, Masking: Open Label, Primary Purpose: Treatment

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• End Stage Renal Disease
• Kidney Diseases
• Kidney Failure, Chronic

• NCT number: NCT01102218
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: Fresenius Medical Care North America
• Status: Terminated
• Phase: Phase 2
• Start date: August 2010
• Completion date: January 2012