2010-05-06
ASH has submitted comments to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
(AHRQ) about its proposed key questions for the 2010 update of the 2006
report on Comparative Effectiveness of Epoetin and Darbepoetin for Managing
Anemia in Patients Undergoing Cancer Treatment. ASH noted the importance
of including comparative effectiveness (including potential harms) of non-erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA)
therapies such as transfusions in the considerations of anemia management for
patients with cancer; suggested consideration of the dose density/intensity of
the ESA, particularly in those recipients who do not initially respond to ESA
with a hemoglobin increase; and acknowledged the limitations of current
understanding of the reasons why cancer patients treated with ESAs may be at
increased risk of harm.
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