Changes in erythropoiesis‐stimulating agent responsiveness after transfer to combined therapy with peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis for patients on peritoneal dialysis: A prospective multicenter study in Japan

Abstract Introduction Inadequate dialysis and fluid overload are corrected after starting combined therapy with peritoneal dialysis (PD) and hemodialysis (HD). However, the effects on anemia management has not been elucidated. Methods We conducted a prospective, multicenter, observational cohort study of 40 PD patients (age, 60 ± 10 years; male, 88%; median PD duration, 28 months) starting combined therapy and investigated changes in several clinical parameters, including erythropoiesis‐stimulating agent (ESA) resistance index (ERI). Results ERI decreased significantly during 6 months after switching to combined therapy (from 11.8 [IQR 8.0–20.4] units/week/kg/(g/dL) to 7.8 [IQR 3.9–18.6] units/week/kg/(g/dL), p = 0.047). Body weight, urinary volume, serum creatinine and the dialysate‐to‐plasma creatinine ratio (D/P Cr) decreased, whereas hemoglobin and serum albumin increased. In subgroup analysis, the changes in ERI were not affected by cause for starting combined therapy, PD holiday and D/P Cr. Conclusion Although detailed mechanism was unclear, ESA responsiveness improved after switching from PD alone to combined therapy.