Program Description

Anemia has a profound impact on cancer and critical care patient outcomes and can lead to complications, including decreased quality of life and increased morbidity and mortality. Successful management of this condition requires selection of a safe, effective, and rapid therapy from among the available treatment options, which include blood transfusions and iron and erythropoietic therapies.

This symposium will provide a review of the cause, impact, and treatment of anemia in the cancer and critical care patient populations. A comparison of the safety and efficacy of available treatment options will be followed by a review of recent clinical trials comparing dosing strategies for the erythropoietic therapies. The potential application of pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic principles in assessing response to therapy will also be explored. The program will conclude with a review of direct and indirect costs that impact the pharmacoeconomics of anemia management.