Treating Anemia in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease on Dialysis: The Role of the Pharmacist

Treating Anemia in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease on Dialysis: The Role of the Pharmacist

Faculty Presenter

Darren W. Grabe, BS, PharmD
Chair and Associate Professor
Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Albany, New York
 
Program Description
Of all patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), more than half a million are on dialysis for end-stage renal disease. Patients who are on dialysis are especially at risk for iron depletion, and it is estimated up to 95% of patients on dialysis require treatment for severe anemia. Treatment options for patients with anemia include iron supplementation, erythropoiesis-stimulating agents, or blood transfusions, but these may pose clinical challenges and safety concerns resulting in a need for additional therapies. Emerging hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) prolyl hydroxylase inhibitors are a new class of oral agents that have the potential to normalize hemoglobin levels in patients with CKD with anemia. This activity will assist pharmacists caring for patients with CKD and anemia on dialysis in their traditional roles of medication management and patient monitoring and counseling, as well as additional roles such as early identification of patients who would benefit from alternative treatment approaches to potentially improve patient outcomes and minimize the disease burden.

Target audience: Health-system and retail pharmacists
Type of activity: Application
Release date: November 30, 2020
Expiration date: November 30, 2021
Time to complete activity: 1.0 hour
Fee: Free

Educational Objectives
At the completion of this activity, participants will be able to:

• Explain the disease burden of anemia, particularly in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), and the effect on their quality of life
• Explore hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) stabilization with HIF prolyl hydroxylase inhibitors to treat anemia in CKD and the impact for patients on dialysis
• Examine updates in clinical trial data for emerging agents to treat anemia in CKD
• Illustrate the role of the pharmacist and evidence-based best practices in the development of strategies that effectively treat anemia in patients with CKD

Pharmacy Times Continuing Education™ is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. This activity is approved for 1.0 contact hour (0.10 CEU) under the ACPE universal activity number 0290-0000-20-378-H01-P. The activity is available for CE credit through November 30, 2021.


Instructions for Completing the Activity and Receiving CPE Credit
To receive CPE credit, participants must complete the pretest, view the webinar in its entirety, complete the posttest, and complete the online activity evaluation. After successful completion of the online activity evaluation, you can submit your credit to CPE Monitor. You may view your credit within 48 hours at www.mycpemonitor.net. All participants must request credit before the activity expiration date. CE credit will not be issued after this date.
 

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Disclosures

Darren W. Grabe, BS, PharmD, has no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose.

Pharmacy Times Continuing Education™ Planning Staff: Jim Palatine, RPh, MBA; Maryjo Dixon, RPh, MBA; Dipti Desai, PharmD, CHCP; Liza Patel, PharmD, RPh; Crissy Wilson; Susan Pordon; and Brianna Winters have no financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose.

An anonymous peer reviewer is used as part of content validation and conflict resolution. The peer reviewer has no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose.

Educational Disclaimer
CPE activities are offered solely for educational purposes and do not constitute any form of professional advice or referral. Discussions concerning drugs, dosages, and procedures may reflect the clinical experience of the author(s) or they may be derived from the professional literature or other sources and may suggest uses that are investigational in nature and not approved labeling or indications. Participants are encouraged to refer to primary references or full prescribing information resources.

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