
doi: 10.1002/hep.21517
pmid: 17256721
We conducted a national retrospective survey on hospital practitioners to evaluate the magnitude of erythropoietin (EPO) or granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) prescriptions in patients treated for chronic hepatitis C. Four hundred seventy-one questionnaires were sent, and 274 practitioners (58.2%) responded. Forty-six percent of practitioners used EPO, and 31% used G-CSF. The total number of HCV-infected patients receiving antiviral therapy per year was estimated at 6,630 patients, of whom 8.8% and 4% received EPO and G-CSF, respectively. EPO-β was the main EPO molecule prescribed at a median dose of 30,000 IU/wk (range: 2,000-80,000). The indications for prescribing EPO varied greatly, including “fragile patients” (34%), “low” Hb level (8-11 g/dL) (19%), “rapid decline” in Hb level (2-5 g/dL during the first month of therapy) (12%), and symptomatic anemic patients (7%). G-CSF was mainly prescribed for a “low” level of neutrophils ranging from 400 to 750 neutrophils/mm3. In multivariate analysis, independent predictors of EPO and G-CSF prescription were age of practitioner less than 45 years (EPO: OR = 1.96, P = 0.03; G-CSF: OR = 2.27, P = 0.004), practice in university hospital (EPO: OR = 5.89, P < 0.0001; G-CSF: OR = 2.39, P = 0.003), and the high number of CHC treated/year (EPO: OR = 6.18, P < 0.0001; G-CSF: OR = 2.58, P = 0.002). Conclusion : Our survey reveals an important rate of EPO and G-CSF prescriptions but with considerable disparity in the schedule of injections, the molecules used, and above all the indications. The suitable role of EPO and G-CSF as complements to HCV therapy urgently needs to be clarified.
Adult, Male, 610, MESH: Drug Administration Schedule, Hematopoietic Cell Growth Factors, MESH: Multivariate Analysis, Drug Administration Schedule, MESH: Health Surveys, Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor, MESH: Chemotherapy, Humans, MESH: Erythropoietin, Chronic, Practice Patterns, Physicians', MESH: Physician's Practice Patterns, MESH: Hematopoietic Cell Growth Factors, Erythropoietin, Adjuvant, Retrospective Studies, MESH: Age Factors, MESH: Hepatitis C, MESH: Humans, MESH: Middle Aged, Age Factors, MESH: Adult, MESH: Retrospective Studies, [SDV.MHEP.HEG]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Human health and pathology/Hépatology and Gastroenterology, Hepatitis C, Chronic, Middle Aged, Health Surveys, MESH: Male, [SDV.MHEP.HEG] Life Sciences [q-bio]/Human health and pathology/Hépatology and Gastroenterology, MESH: France, Chemotherapy, Adjuvant, Multivariate Analysis, MESH: Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor, Female, France, MESH: Female
Adult, Male, 610, MESH: Drug Administration Schedule, Hematopoietic Cell Growth Factors, MESH: Multivariate Analysis, Drug Administration Schedule, MESH: Health Surveys, Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor, MESH: Chemotherapy, Humans, MESH: Erythropoietin, Chronic, Practice Patterns, Physicians', MESH: Physician's Practice Patterns, MESH: Hematopoietic Cell Growth Factors, Erythropoietin, Adjuvant, Retrospective Studies, MESH: Age Factors, MESH: Hepatitis C, MESH: Humans, MESH: Middle Aged, Age Factors, MESH: Adult, MESH: Retrospective Studies, [SDV.MHEP.HEG]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Human health and pathology/Hépatology and Gastroenterology, Hepatitis C, Chronic, Middle Aged, Health Surveys, MESH: Male, [SDV.MHEP.HEG] Life Sciences [q-bio]/Human health and pathology/Hépatology and Gastroenterology, MESH: France, Chemotherapy, Adjuvant, Multivariate Analysis, MESH: Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor, Female, France, MESH: Female
| selected citations These citations are derived from selected sources. This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | 29 | |
| popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network. | Average | |
| influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Top 10% | |
| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 10% |
