This is a study to determine the safety and effectiveness of Darbepoetin (Aranesp) given every 14 to 28 days to treat low red blood cells in children with chronic kidney failure.

Erythropoietin (EPO) is a glycoprotein synthesized in the kidneys which regulates the rate of proliferation and differentiation of red blood cell precursors. The main cause of anemia in children with chronic renal failure is deficiency of EPO production as a result of declining renal function. Recombinant human EPO (rHuEPO) is a synthetic erythropoietin that is structurally and functionally similar to naturally occuring EPO. Treatment of anemia using rHuEPO has been associated with an improvement in the quality of life for patients, likely attributable to an increased production in hemoglobin and a reduction of dilatation of the heart. Recently, an analogue of EPO with two extra oligosaccharide chins, darbepoetin alfa, has been described as having a more prolonged effect requiring less frequent dosing.

There are currently no data available on the efficacy of darbepoetin alfa administered every 14-28 days for children. The most common dosing schedules in the clinical trial at HSC are every 7, 10, and 14 days. Due to reports of increased pain associated with the SC injection, and confusion of caregivers when the 10 day dosing schedule is necessary, the goals of the current proposal are to: 1) Decrease the frequency of SC injections and 2)Eliminate the 10 day dosing schedule for the administration of Darbepoetin.

Inclusion Criteria:

• diagnosis of chronic renal insufficiency or end stage renal disease (ESRD) requiring dialysis
• clinically stable
• hemoglobin of 110-125 g/L in screening period; for naive subjects, hemoglobin < 110 g/L
• not iron deficient (TSAT > 19.5%) within 4 weeks of study entry
• stable darbepoetin alpha therapy administered IV or SC q7 to q21 days OR darbepoetin alpha naive
• written informed consent from parent/legal guardian
• less than 18 years old
• weight at least 10 kg
• females of childbearing potential must practice adequate contraception
• availability for follow-up assessments

Exclusion Criteria:

• scheduled for a living donor kidney transplant within 12 weeks of signing consent
• uncontrolled blood pressure as judged by principal investigator
• change in seizure pattern in past 30 days; grand-mal seizure 12 weeks before enrollment
• current clinical evidence of severe hyperparathyroidism
• major surgery 2 weeks before signing consent
• active inflammatory disease or condition requiring immunosuppressive therapy
• currently receiving antibiotics for active systemic infection
• peritoneal dialysis patient with an episode of peritonitis within the past 30 days
• known HIV antibody positivity
• known antibodies to rHuEPO
• known aluminum toxicity
• known red cell aplasia
• known malignancy