Epoetina Alfa
Epoetin Alfa
Recombinant Human Erythropoietin (rHuEPO)
También conocido como: Epogen · Procrit · Eprex · NeoRecormon · rHuEPO · epoetin alfa · r-HuEPO-alpha · Epoetin beta · rhEPO · Recombinant human erythropoietin
Revisado por el equipo veterinario de VetSheetActualizado 5 abr 2026Referencia veterinaria basada en la evidencia
Las dosis son una referencia clínica para profesionales veterinarios autorizados. Confirme siempre con el prospecto actual y cada paciente individual.
Dosis por especie
🌎 NA — North America🌍 EU — Europe
Perros
| Indicación | Dosis | Vía | Frecuencia | Duración | Región |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adjunctive therapy for anemia associated with endstage renal disease | Initially, 100 Units/kg SC 3 times weekly, until the bottom of the target hematocrit range of 37-45% is attained. Once attained, change to twice weekly. As hematocrit approaches upper target, reduce to once weekly. Maintenance generally 75-100 Units/kg SC 1-2 times weekly. | SC | 3 times weekly initially | Ongoing | 🌎 NA |
| Adjunctive therapy for anemia associated with endstage renal disease | Initially, 48.4-145 Units/kg SC three times a week. Most dogs should be started at 97 Units/kg SC 3 times a week. | SC | 3 times a week | Ongoing | 🌎 NA |
- Adjunctive therapy for anemia associated with endstage renal disease: A lower initial dosage of 50-100 Units/kg 3 times weekly may be used. Iron supplementation required.
- Adjunctive therapy for anemia associated with endstage renal disease: Monitor hematocrit weekly until target 37-45% is reached, then decrease to two times weekly. Oral iron supplements recommended.
Gatos
| Indicación | Dosis | Vía | Frecuencia | Duración | Región |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adjunctive therapy for anemia associated with endstage renal disease | Initially, 100 Units/kg SC 3 times weekly (or 48.4-145 Units/kg SC 3 times a week). | SC | 3 times weekly | Ongoing | 🌎 NA |
| Anemia associated with endstage renal disease (PCV <20%) | 75-100 Units/kg SC three times a week until PCV is in the low normal range (35%), then reduce dose and frequency to 50-75 Units/kg two times per week. | SC | 3 times a week initially | Ongoing | 🌎 NA |
| Problematic clinical signs and PCV <20% | Initially, 100 Units/kg SC 3 times per week. | SC | 3 times per week | Ongoing | 🌎 NA |
- Adjunctive therapy for anemia associated with endstage renal disease: Target hematocrit is 30-40%.
- Anemia associated with endstage renal disease (PCV <20%): Administer iron at start of regime and until appetite is good.
- Problematic clinical signs and PCV <20%: Provide oral supplementation with ferrous sulfate (5-50 mg per cat per day). Reduce to twice per week when target PCV (30-40%) is reached.
Pequeños mamíferos
| Indicación | Dosis | Vía | Frecuencia | Duración | Región |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anemia (Rabbits) | 50-150 Units/kg SC every 2-3 days until PVC is normal; then once weekly (q7 days) for at least 4 weeks | SC | every 2-3 days initially | at least 4 weeks maintenance | 🌎 NA |
Hurones
| Indicación | Dosis | Vía | Frecuencia | Duración | Región |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anemia | 50-150 Units/kg IM 3 times weekly; may decrease to once weekly if RBC indices are significantly improved | IM | 3 times weekly | Ongoing | 🌎 NA |
Las dosis son una referencia clínica para profesionales veterinarios autorizados. Confirme siempre con el prospecto actual y cada paciente individual.
Resumen
La epoetina alfa es una forma biosintética de la hormona glicoproteica humana eritropoyetina (rHuEPO). Se utiliza principalmente en medicina veterinaria para tratar la anemia no regenerativa asociada con la insuficiencia renal crónica (IRC) en perros y gatos.
Debido a que es una proteína recombinante humana, su uso en animales de compañía conlleva un riesgo significativo (incidencia del 20-70%) de inducir autoanticuerpos anti-eritropoyetina. Estos anticuerpos pueden reaccionar de forma cruzada con la eritropoyetina endógena del animal, lo que provoca una anemia refractaria profunda que requiere transfusiones. En consecuencia, muchos clínicos reservan la epoetina alfa como un "último recurso" cuando el volumen globular aglomerado (PCV) cae a niveles críticos.
Perla clínica: Los pacientes que reciben epoetina alfa requieren casi universalmente suplementación con hierro concurrente para apoyar el aumento repentino en la producción de glóbulos rojos.
Mecanismo de acción
Erythropoietin is an endogenous hormone primarily produced by the kidneys that regulates erythropoiesis.
- Receptor Binding: Epoetin alfa binds to erythropoietin receptors on the surface of committed erythroid progenitor cells in the bone marrow.
- Proliferation & Differentiation: This binding activates intracellular signaling pathways (such as JAK2/STAT5) → stimulates the survival, proliferation, and differentiation of red cell precursors.
- Reticulocyte Release: It also accelerates the release of reticulocytes from the bone marrow into the systemic circulation, ultimately increasing the hematocrit and hemoglobin levels.
Seguridad y advertencias
Contraindicaciones
- Uncontrolled hypertension
- Hypersensitivity to epoetin alfa
- Formation of significant autoantibodies with prior treatment
- Equines (not recommended for use)
Efectos adversos
- Autoantibody formation (leading to refractory anemia)
- Systemic hypertension
- Vomiting
- Seizures
- Uveitis
- Iron depletion
- Local reactions at injection sites
- Fever
- Arthralgia
- Mucocutaneous ulcers
- Polycythemia (with chronic overdosage)
Precauciones
Therapy should be started with caution or withheld until corrected in animals with moderate to severe hypertension or iron deficiency.
Autoantibody Risk: Up to 30% of patients may develop antibodies significant enough to cause profound anemia and arrestment of erythropoiesis. A bone marrow aspirate showing a myeloid:erythroid ratio >6 predicts significant autoantibody formation and contraindicates further therapy. Discontinue therapy if polycythemia, fever, anorexia, joint pain, cellulitis, or cutaneous/mucosal ulceration occurs.
Interacciones farmacológicas
May increase the sensitivity of erythroid progenitors; safety of this combination is not fully determined.
Concurrent use with EPO can decrease bleeding times.
Has been demonstrated to reduce the renal tubular excretion of EPO; clinical significance remains unclear.
Synergistic/Required; EPO increases demand for iron to synthesize hemoglobin for new RBCs
Monitorización
- Hematocrit / PCV (weekly to every other week initially, then every 1-2 months)
- Blood Pressure (at least monthly initially)
- Renal Function Status
- Iron status (serum iron, TIBC)
- RBC indices
Farmacocinética
Absorción
Absorbed only after parenteral administration.
Distribución
It is unclear whether the drug crosses the placenta or enters milk.
Metabolismo
The drug's metabolic fate is unknown.
Eliminación
In patients with chronic renal failure, half-lives are prolonged approximately 20% over those with normal renal function.
Sobredosis
Acute overdoses appear to be relatively free of adverse effects. Single doses of up to 1600 Units/kg in humans demonstrated no signs of toxicity.
Chronic overdoses may lead to polycythemia or other adverse effects. Cautious phlebotomy may be employed should polycythemia occur.
Productos disponibles
Formulaciones
- Solution for Injection
Etiquetado para humanos
- Epoetin Alfa Solution for Injection: 2000 Units/mL, 3000 Units/mL, 4000 Units/mL, 10,000 Units/mL, 20,000 Units/mL and 40,000 Units/mL in single-dose and multidose vials (Epogen®, Procrit®)
Estado regulador
POM (Prescription Only Medicine). Approved for human use, used off-label in veterinary medicine.
POM (Prescription Only Medicine). Approved for human use, used off-label in veterinary medicine.
Sin datos reguladores para: 🇺🇸 US · 🇭🇰 HK · 🇹🇼 TW · 🇯🇵 JP · 🇰🇷 KR · 🇦🇺 AU
Almacenamiento y estabilidad
Store in the refrigerator (2-8°C); do not freeze. Do not shake the solution as denaturation of the protein with resultant loss of activity may occur. Protect from light. Because the solution contains no preservatives, the manufacturer recommends using each vial only as a single use.
Información para el cliente
- Administración: Si administra inyecciones en casa, asegúrese de haber sido capacitado adecuadamente por su equipo veterinario en las técnicas de inyección subcutánea.
- Almacenamiento: Mantenga el medicamento en el refrigerador (2-8°C). No congele y no agite el vial, ya que agitarlo puede destruir la proteína activa.
- Monitoreo: Asista a todas las citas programadas para análisis de sangre. El monitoreo frecuente del recuento de glóbulos rojos (PCV) y la presión arterial es fundamental.
- Signos de advertencia: Comuníquese con su veterinario de inmediato si su mascota se vuelve cada vez más letárgica, débil o pierde el apetito, ya que esto podría indicar una reacción inmunitaria peligrosa (formación de autoanticuerpos) que causa el empeoramiento de la anemia.
La referencia de medicamentos de VetSheet está destinada a profesionales veterinarios autorizados como ayuda para la toma de decisiones clínicas, no como sustituto del criterio profesional ni del prospecto actual del fabricante.