AUTHOR=Libudzic-Nowak Anna Maria , Cachat Francois , Pascual Manuel , Chehade Hassib 
  
TITLE=Darbepoetin Alfa in Young Infants With Renal Failure: Single Center Experience, a Case Series and Review of the Literature
  
JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pediatrics
  
VOLUME=Volume 6 - 2018
  
YEAR=2018
  
URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pediatrics/articles/10.3389/fped.2018.00398
  
DOI=10.3389/fped.2018.00398
  
ISSN=2296-2360
  
ABSTRACT=Background:
Anemia treatment in infants with advanced or chronic kidney disease (CKD) represents an important challenge. The use of darbepoetin alfa, a novel erythropoiesis stimulating agent, has largely replaced recombinant human erythropoietin in older children and in adults with CKD. However, studies reporting the use of darbepoetin alfa in infants below 1 year of age are sparse. 
Case presentation:
We report the data of three infants with advanced stage kidney failure, aged 1, 4 and 7 months, who were treated with darbepoetin alfa and followed for 18 to 41 months.  Hemoglobin levels increased in all 3 patients, reaching the target levels of 10.7-12 g/dl by 11, 19 and 22 weeks respectively, without any documented adverse effects. Patients younger than 1 year of age required a larger darbepoetin alfa dosage (ranged from 1.2 to 2.9 μg/kg per month) as compared to older children. A review of the literature found only 3 studies using darbepoetin alfa successfully in such young infants. 
Conclusion:
In these 3 patients with advanced kidney disease, darbepoetin alfa was effective in correcting anemia with no observed adverse effects.