Recombinant human erythropoietin and autologous blood donation.
Risks of transfusion are minimized with autologous blood. However, autologous donation programs require 2 to 5 weeks to yield only 2.2 units per patient. Recombinant human erythropoietin (r-HuEPO) has been shown to increase erythropoiesis. This study evaluated the effects of r-HuEPO on an aggressive autologous donation program. Twelve adult male baboons were randomized into two groups of six. All animals were studied three times per week for 5 weeks. A unit of blood was donated when on any study day the hematocrit was greater than 30%. Animals received intravenously either 750 units/kg of r-HuEPO (n = 6) or placebo (n = 6) on each study day. Iron dextran was given intravenously to replace 150% of shed iron. The r-HuEPO group had an earlier onset of reticulocytosis (2.7 vs 5.5 days, p less than 0.01) and donated 35% more blood (13.5 vs 10.0 units, p = 0.01) than the control group. No adverse reactions to r-HuEPO were observed. The data show that an aggressive autologous donation program can yield 10 units of blood over a 5-week period. Further, r-HuEPO increases that yield by an additional 35%. This aggressive autologous donation program with r-HuEPO may significantly reduce the need for homologous transfusion and its attendant risks.
Levine
E A
EA
Department of Surgery, Michael Reese Hospital and Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60616.
Rosen
A L
AL
Gould
S A
SA
Sehgal
L R
LR
Egrie
J C
JC
Browne
J K
JK
Sehgal
H L
HL
Moss
G S
GS
D000818:Animals; D001804:Blood Transfusion, Autologous; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006400:Hematocrit; D006410:Hematopoiesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007505:Iron-Dextran Complex / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D010215:Papio; D011897:Random Allocation; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D012156:Reticulocytes
D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin; D007505:Iron-Dextran Complex