Research Library | OXEMIA

1. Evidence-level guide

Understanding study design helps interpret the strength of the evidence.

Prospective
observational study

Collects data forward in time without a control group.
Can show associations but cannot prove causation.

Retrospective
case series

Looks back at existing records. Useful for generating
signals and hypotheses; subject to selection bias.

Single-centre
case series

Small numbers from a single centre. Useful for early
experience but very limited generalisability.

2. Post-kidney-transplant anaemia study

Prospective observational study

Efficacy and Safety of Desidustat Versus Erythropoietin in Post Kidney Transplant Anaemia: A Prospective Observational Study (Nephrology, 2026)

n=58
kidney transplant
recipients

Hb < 10 g/dL
at enrolment

6 tertiary
centres in India

Desidustat group
n=30Oral desidustat
(Dose per physician
discretion)

EPO group
n=28Erythropoietin
(Dose per physician
discretion)

Significant haemoglobin improvement in both groups at 8 weeks.
No adverse events were reported during the short follow-up period.

LimitationsSmall sample; observational allocation; short follow-up (8 weeks); off-label use in transplant recipients.

Preview study summary Open publication

3. EPO-associated PRCA case series

Retrospective case series

Desidustat for Pure Red Cell Aplasia in CKD Patients on Biosimilar Erythropoietin Preparations: A Case Series (Indian J Nephrol, 2026)

n=14
CKD patients
(enrolled)

EPO-associated
pure red cell
aplasia (PRCA)

Single-centre
India

Outcomes with desidustat

9 patients responded after a
median of 4 months.

Responders
9/14 enrolled
(64%)9/12 followed
(75%)

Key diagnostic & design limitations• Retrospective case series.
• Anti-EPO antibody testing performed in only one patient.
• Potential selection bias and incomplete data.

InterpretationDesidustat use in PRCA remains a repurposing hypothesis requiring randomised controlled trials.

Preview case series Open publication

4. Parvovirus B19 post-transplant case series

Single-centre case series

Silent saboteur: parvovirus B19 (B19V) and its impact on refractory post-transplant anemia (Front Med, 2025)

n=10
kidney transplant
recipients

B19V-associated
refractory
anaemia

Single-centre
India

Management approach in the study

Desidustat
(adjunct)+Immunosuppression
modification+IVIg where
needed+Transfusion
support

Desidustat used alongside multimodal management.
Independent contribution of desidustat cannot be determined in this uncontrolled case series.

Limitations• Very small sample; uncontrolled; heterogeneous treatment.
• Causality and generalisability cannot be inferred.
• Authors call for further studies.

Preview case series Open publication

5. Research questions still open

Important gaps that future studies need to address.

Long-term safety
in transplant
recipients

Drug–drug interactions
with immunosuppressants
(e.g., tacrolimus,
mycophenolate, steroids)

Optimal role of desidustat
in PRCA and viral
anaemia (e.g., B19V)

Comparative effectiveness
vs ESA and other
alternatives

Cardiovascular outcomes
(MACE, MACE-plus)
and thromboembolic risk

Longer follow-up,
HRQoL, cost-effectiveness
and implementation
research

6. Publication index

Find and explore studies by population, design, year and topic.

Study	Population	Design	Comparator / Context	Sample size	Duration	Year	Evidence level
Post-kidney-transplant anaemia study	Transplant recipients	Prospective observational	EPO (physician discretion)	58	8 weeks	2026	Prospective observational
EPO-associated PRCA case series	CKD with PRCA	Retrospective case series	N/A (single-arm)	14 (enrolled)	Median 4 months to response	2026	Retrospective case series
Parvovirus B19 post-transplant case series	Transplant recipients	Single-centre case series	Multimodal management (+ desidustat adjunct)	10	Min 3 months follow-up	2025	Single-centre case series

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