<p>Supplementary iron therapy is recommended for all patients with serum ferritin values below 100 &micro;g/l or whose transferrin saturation is below 20%. To ensure effective erythropoiesis, iron status should be evaluated for all patients prior to and during treatment.<br />
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<strong>Lack of effect</strong>: The most common reasons for incomplete response to ESAs are iron deficiency and inflammatory disorders. The following conditions may also compromise the effectiveness of ESAs therapy: chronic blood loss, bone marrow fibrosis, severe aluminium overload due to treatment of renal failure, folic acid or vitamin B12 deficiencies, and hemolysis. If all the conditions mentioned are excluded and the patient has a sudden drop of hemoglobin associated with reticulocytopenia and anti erythropoietin antibodies, examination of the bone marrow for the diagnosis of Pure Red Cell Aplasia (PRCA) should be considered. If PRCA is diagnosed, therapy with MIRCERA must be discontinued and patients should not be switched to another ESA.<br />
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<strong>PRCA</strong>: PRCA caused by anti-erythropoietin antibodies has been reported in association with ESAs including MIRCERA. These antibodies have been shown to cross-react with all ESAs, and patients suspected or confirmed to have antibodies to erythropoietin should not be switched to MIRCERA.<br />
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<strong>Blood pressure monitoring</strong>: As with other ESAs, blood pressure may rise during treatment of anemia with MIRCERA. Blood pressure should be adequately controlled before, at initiation of and during treatment with MIRCERA. If high blood pressure is difficult to control by drug treatment or dietary measures, the dose of MIRCERA must be reduced or withheld.</p>