The use of epoetin alfa does not reduce the incidence of red-cell transfusion among critically ill patients, but it may reduce mortality in patients with trauma. Treatment with epoetin alfa is associated with an increase in the incidence of thrombotic events. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00091910 [ClinicalTrials.gov].).

Background. X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH) is Funding. Kyowa Hakko Kirin Pharma, Inc.Introduction X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH), the most common heritable form of rickets or osteomalacia, occurs due to loss-of-function mutations in PHEX, which result in elevated blood levels of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) (1, 2). FGF23 decreases renal tubular reabsorption of phosphate by reducing the abundance and possibly the activity of sodium-phosphate cotransporters on the apical membrane of proximal tubular epithelium, thereby reducing serum phosphate (measured as inorganic phosphorus, Pi) concentrations (3-5). Elevated FGF23 also decreases renal 1-α-hydroxylase activity, leading to low or inappropriately normal blood levels of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25(OH) 2 D] (1, 2).

Monthly KRN23 significantly increased serum Pi, TmP/GFR, and 1,25(OH)2D in all subjects. KRN23 has potential for effectively treating XLH.

Thirty-three healthy individuals participated in an open-label, randomized, three-way crossover study designed to compared the bioavailability of a single 200-mg oral dose of itraconazole when administered alone or after treatment with ranitidine, both with and without coadministration of a cola beverage. Each treatment phase was separated by a 2-week washout period. Participants pretreated with ranitidine were required to have a gastric pH of at least 6.0 before receiving itraconazole. An analysis of the area under the curve (AUC) and peak plasma concentration (Cmax) data indicated that the bioavailability of itraconazole was significantly reduced when the gastric pH was increased by pretreatment with ranitidine but showed that this effect was counteracted by the coadministration of an acidic solution (e.g., a cola beverage) that transiently reduced the gastric pH. These findings suggest that the coadministration of an acidic beverage with itraconazole may be an effective approach in improving the bioavailability of itraconazole in patients who are hypochlorhydric or who are taking gastric acid suppressants.

Severe age-related decline in renal function is associated with a reduced erythropoietin secretion and anemia. Whether moderate kidney impairment in older persons is associated with a progressively increasing risk of anemia remains to be determined.