The MAINTAIN study—managing hemoglobin variability with darbepoetin alfa in dialysis patients experiencing a severe drop in hemoglobin

Background Dialysis patients, receiving erythropoiesis stimulating agents, typically show signs of hemoglobinvariability as a consequence of their dosing patterns, bleeding, infection, etc., which is commonly managed adjusting the dose regimen of the erythropoiesis stimulating agent. However, information on dosing strategies used in daily clinical practice and their outcomes in relation to hemoglobinvariability is limited.