Anemia Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Anemia, including details on symptoms, diagnosis, diet, treatment, causes.

Recombinant human erythropoietin therapy in low-birthweight preterm infants: a prospective controlled study.

Arif B, Ferhan K

Department of Pediatrics, Gulhane Military Medical Academy Haydarpasa Training Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. Arbahar@Hotmail.com

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to detect the effectiveness of recombinant human erythropoietin therapy in preventing premature anemia in low-birthweight preterm infants. METHODS: A total of 292 premature infants who were born earlier than 33 gestational weeks and smaller than 1500 g birthweight were enrolled into the study. In addition to their conventional supportive therapy (medications), recombinant human erythropoietin 200 U/kg twice a week, subcutaneously, was given to randomly selected 142 premature infants for 6 weeks. The blood count variables and need for transfusions were compared with the remaining 150 premature infants during 6 months follow up. RESULTS: Serum erythropoietin levels were 11.3 +/- 6.1 mU/mL and 38.3 +/- 19.1 mU/mL in the erythropoietin group before and at the fourth week of the study, respectively (P < 0.001). Reticulocyte counts of the group treated with erythropoietin were 146 x 10(6) +/- 28 x 10(6)/mL and 122 x 10(6) +/- 27 x 10(6)/mL at the fourth and seventh week of the study, respectively, and these values were significantly higher when compared with the control group (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001). At the same period, hematocrit values were also found to be higher in the treatment group than the control group (P < 0.001). Serum ferritin levels were lower in the treatment group compared with the control group at the fourth week of the study. No side-effects related to erythropoietin usage were encountered. The need for packed cell transfusions were 47% in the group treated with erythropoietin and 62.6% in the control group. A statistically significant difference was found for transfusion needs between the control and treatment groups (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Recombinant erythropoietin is effective therapy for maintaining stable hematocrit levels in low-birthweight preterm infants and prevents the need for blood transfusions.

Published 7 February 2005 in Pediatr Int, 47(1): 67-71.
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