Erythropoiesis-stimulating agent | |
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Drug class | |
![]() Structure of erythropoietin | |
Class identifiers | |
Synonyms | Erythropoiesis-stimulating drugs,[3] erythropoietin-type blood factors[2] |
Use | Anemia due to end stage kidney disease, chemotherapy, major surgery, or certain treatments in HIV/AIDS[1][2] |
ATC code | B03XA |
Legal status | |
In Wikidata |
Erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESA) are medications which stimulate the bone marrow to make red blood cells.[1] They are used to treat anemia due to end stage kidney disease, chemotherapy, major surgery, or certain treatments in HIV/AIDS.[1][2] In these situations they decrease the need for blood transfusions.[2] The different agents are more or less equivalent.[2] They are given by injection.[2]
Common side effects may include joint pain, rash, vomiting, and headache.[4] Serious side effects may include heart attacks, stroke, increased cancer growth, or pure red cell aplasia.[2] It is unclear if use is safe during pregnancy.[5][6] They work similar to naturally occurring erythropoietin.[1]
They were first approved for medical use in the United States in 1989.[5] It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.[7] Commercially available agents include epoetin alfa and darbepoetin alfa, and biosimilars.[1][2] Use among athletes is prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency.[5]
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