Darbepoetin Treatment of Anemia in Children With Chronic Renal Failure

Darbepoetin alfa will be administered by SC/IV injection every 14-28 days. Patients starting on the 14 day dose regimen will receive two times their baseline weekly dose; patients on the 28 day schedule will receive four times their average weekly dose. The exception to a Q14 or Q28 dosing schedule will be for patients requiring 10 mcg every 10 days. These patients will go to 20 mcg Q21 days before extending to the Q28 day schedule. Naive patients will start on a dose of 0.9 mcg/kg every 14 days. Study subjects who are successfully treated for 12 weeks on the 14 day schedule may be enrolled in the 28 day schedule study.