title: Fetal globin stimulation during a short-term trial of erythropoietin in HbS/beta-thalassemia patients.
abstract: Six sickle cell/beta-thalassemia patients (3 males and 3 females) were treated with 500 U/kg body weight human recombinant erythropoietin (h-rEPO) along with 300 mg/day iron sulfate in two phases, for a period of 90 days. Fetal hemoglobin (HbF) was assayed every 2 weeks and the gamma-chain ratio at three successive intervals during the treatment. All patients showed a moderate to high increase in their HbF values (1.25- to 12-fold). The gamma-chain ratio, as determined by high performance liquid chromatography was found to be unaffected by the HbF increase. Two patients with the newborn gamma-chain ratio, responded faster to the h-rEPO treatment and achieved higher HbF values than the rest of the group. The h-rEPO treatment was very well tolerated and had a positive effect on the general clinical condition of all the patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Ioannina Medical School, Greece.
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Bourantas
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Georgiou
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Seferiadis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002648:Child; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004909:Erythrocyte Indices / Q000187:drug effects; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005296:Ferrous Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005319:Fetal Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects; D005914:Globins / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical; D013997:Time Factors; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D005296:Ferrous Compounds; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin; C020748:ferrous sulfate; D005914:Globins; D005319:Fetal Hemoglobin