A Study of Intravenous Mircera in Dialysis Patients With Chronic Renal Disease and Anemia.

A Single-arm, Open Label Multicenter Study to Assess the Efficacy, Safety and Tolerability of Once Monthly Administration of C.E.R.A. for the Maintenance of Hemoglobin Levels in Dialysis Patients With Chronic Renal Anemia

This single arm study will assess the efficacy, safety and tolerability of monthly intravenous Mircera for the maintenance of hemoglobin levels in dialysis patients with chronic renal disease, currently receiving epoetin alfa or beta. Patients will receive monthly intravenous injections of Mircera at a starting dose of 120, 200 or 360 micrograms/month, depending on the dose of epoetin alfa or beta they were receiving in the week preceding study start. The anticipated time on study treatment is 3-12 months, and the target sample size is 100-500 individuals.

Inclusion Criteria:

• adult patients, >=18 years of age;
• chronic renal anemia;
• hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis, with same mode of dialysis for >=3 months before and throughout screening period;
• continuous maintenance epoetin alfa or beta therapy with the same dosing interval during the previous 2 months.

Exclusion Criteria:

• transfusion of red blood cells during previous 2 months;
• poorly controlled hypertension requiring interruption of epoetin alfa or beta treatment in past 6 months;
• significant acute or chronic bleeding such as overt gastrointestinal bleeding;
• hemolysis;
• folic acid and vitamin B12 deficiency.