Welcome To ANEMIA ALERT!
Thank you for signing up for AnemiaAlert, the monthly e-newsletter of the National Anemia Action Council, Inc. AnemiaAlert is a timely, easy-to-read anemia source that disseminates anemia information to health care professionals, managed care directors, and organizational leaders.
Each issue contains facts from recent research that may impact your practice or organization. For more information, see www.anemia.org, the National Anemia Action Council, Inc. (NAAC) web site. Health care professionals, patients, and members of the media will find the latest in research, commentaries, and articles….all focusing on anemia.
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Anemia: Fast Facts (Peer reviewed publications)
Study Shows Female/Male Basketball Players have High Prevalence of Iron Depletion, Anemia, and Iron Deficiency Anemia
A study published in the International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism assessed the prevalence of anemia and iron depletion in top-level basketball female and male players. Of the 103 players studied, 25% were anemic. Iron deficiency was the cause of approximately 7% of the anemias. The investigators recommended basketball players be screened for iron stores and blood counts, and given nutritional counseling and iron supplementation as appropriate.
Dubnov G, Constantini NW. Prevalence of iron depletion and anemia in top-level basketball players. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2004 Feb;14(1):30-7.
Study Shows Anemia is Associated with Heart Problems and Worse Prognosis
A study performed on 137 heart-failure patients over the course of two years and published in the American Journal of Cardiology, demonstrated that anemia was common with diastolic heart failure. The severity of heart failure was worse in patients with anemia, and their prognosis was also worse. As compared to heart failure patients without anemia, patients with anemia had an increased incidence of diabetes mellitus, systemic hypertension, coronary artery disease, diastolic dysfunction, higher serum creatinine levels, and elevated BNP (B-type natriuretic peptide) levels. In addition, patients with diastolic heart failure and anemia had poorer hospital-free survival rates, and a trend toward poorer overall survival.
Brucks S, Little WC, Chao T, Rideman RL, Upadhya B, Wesley-Farrington D, Sane DC. Relation of anemia to diastolic heart failure and the effect on outcome. Am J Cardiol. 2004 Apr 15;93(8):1055-7.
A Better Understanding of Anemia of Chronic Disease
Researchers at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Children's Hospital Boston, and Harvard Medical School published findings in Nature Genetics linking the gene HFE to anemia of chronic disease (ACD). ACD is present in many patients with inflammatory diseases (arthritis, cancer...) and can have a negative impact on a patient's life. Given the recent CDC statement (May 2004) that approximately 25% of Americans suffer from arthritis, ACD affects many people nationwide. The discovery linking the HFE gene to ACD provides specific guidance to researchers aiming to develop an effective treatment for this debilitating type of anemia.
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Anemia in the Press (Non-peer reviewed publications):
FDA Addresses Concerns about the Use of EPO Drugs in Cancer
In response to concerns over the findings of two European studies involving EPO class drugs, the Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee of the FDA met on May 4, 2004. The FDA and U.S. EPO class drug sponsors agreed to engage in research specifically designed to evaluate progression-free survival rates in cancer patients treated with EPO.
Drug sponsors and the FDA noted target hemoglobin levels in the European studies were high (>12), and the findings of adverse cardiovascular events may have been skewed by the inclusion of hypertension as an adverse cardiovascular event. In addition, the studies were of a superiority design (designed to measure benefits instead of risks).
In conclusion, the FDA did not specifically recommend any dosing changes in current regimens, but insisted that further studies were necessary.
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