Response to roxadustat in a patient undergoing long-term dialysis and allergic to erythropoiesis-stimulating agents: A case report

BACKGROUND: Hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase inhibitor is a new class of drugs for treating renal anemia. It is a second-generation hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase-2 (PHD2) inhibitor. Roxadustat can effectively increase hemoglobin in patients with dialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease, with an adverse events profile comparable to that of epoetin alfa. We administered roxadustat to a maintenance hemodialysis patient who was allergic to erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) and depended on blood transfusion for five years. After applying Roxadustat, the patient’s anemia improved significantly. CASE SUMMARY: A 77-year-old Chinese man had type 2 diabetes for 16 years, underwent maintenance hemodialysis for five years, and had fatigue for five years. Laboratory tests showed severe anemia (hemoglobin concentration of 42 g/L). The patient was administered a subcutaneous injection of ESAs before dialysis. He suffered an allergic shock immediately and fainted. His blood pressure dropped to undetectable levels. He was not administered ESAs henceforth. The patient was prescribed iron supplements and received blood transfusions occasionally for five years. His hemoglobin concentration ranged from 42-68 g/L. After taking six weeks of oral roxadustat three times weekly (100 mg TIW), the patient’s hemoglobin concentration increased significantly, and his symptoms decreased. We adjusted the doses of roxadustat, and the hemoglobin concentration was maintained between 97 and 126 g/L. CONCLUSION: Oral roxadustat is effective in treating anemia in maintenance hemodialysis patients who cannot be administered ESAs.