Perioperative recombinant human erythropoietin.
The risks of transfusion-associated infectious disease have made increased efforts to avoid homologous transfusion imperative. Little attention has been focused on efforts to accelerate erythropoiesis as a method of reducing homologous blood use. Recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) has been shown to enhance erythropoiesis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of perioperative rHuEPO administration on postoperative erythropoiesis. Fifteen baboons were divided into three groups of five each. Group I received no rHuEPO. Group II received five daily preoperative doses of rHuEPO (1000 U/kg). Group III received five daily preoperative doses and 14 daily postoperative doses of rHuEPO (1000 U/kg). All animals underwent a laparotomy followed by an exchange transfusion to a final hematocrit of 15%. The time in days required to recover to hematocrits of 20% was significantly shorter in both groups that received preoperative doses of rHuEPO when compared with that of controls (3.3 vs 5.7 days, p less than 0.01). The recovery times to hematocrits of 25%, 30%, and baseline levels were all significantly shorter in the group that received both preoperative and postoperative doses of rHuEPO. The data show that perioperative dosage of rHuEPO significantly accelerates postoperative erythropoiesis. Perioperative administration of rHuEPO may reduce the requirements for homologous transfusion.
Department of Surgery, Michael Reese Hospital, Chicago, IL 60616.
E A
EA
Levine
S A
SA
Gould
A L
AL
Rosen
L R
LR
Sehgal
J C
JC
Egrie
H L
HL
Sehgal
H D
HD
Levine
G S
GS
Moss
D000818:Animals; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D002452:Cell Count / Q000187:drug effects; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005078:Exchange Transfusion, Whole Blood; D006400:Hematocrit; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010215:Papio; D010976:Platelet Count / Q000187:drug effects; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012156:Reticulocytes / Q000166:cytology
D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin