Effect of recombinant human erythropoietin on anaemia after gastrectomy: a pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the role of recombinant human erythropoietin in reducing the need for homologous blood transfusion during operations by studying its effect on the recovery of postoperative anaemia.


METHODS
Randomised controlled trial.


METHODS
University hospital, Japan.


METHODS
10 patients with gastric cancer undergoing distal gastrectomy.


METHODS
5 Patients were given erythropoietin 200 IU/kg/day together with ferric pyrophosphate 40 mg/day intravenously for seven days before operation and 14 days afterwards, and 5 were given ferric pyrophosphate 40 mg/day alone (control group).


METHODS
Packed cell volume, haemoglobin concentration, and white and red cell counts.


RESULTS
There was no significant change in packed cell volume after the operation in the erythropoietin group, but in the control group it dropped from a mean (SD) of 0.378 (0.074) before operation to 0.329 (0.068) on day 1 (p < 0.05). Haemoglobin concentrations were significantly higher in the erythropoietin group than the control group on day 7 (mean (SD) 137 (14) compared with 110 (19) p < 0.05), and on day 10 (140 (9) compared with 108 (15) p < 0.01) after operation.


CONCLUSIONS
Erythropoietin prevented postoperative anaemia after gastrectomy as judged by packed cell volume, haemoglobin concentration, and red cell count. Erythropoietin given before and after operation therefore has the potential to reduce the need for homologous blood transfusion during and after major operations.
Tsuji
Y
Y
Department of Surgery II, Osaka University Medical School, Japan.
Kambayashi
J
J
Shiba
E
E
Sakon
M
M
Kawasaki
T
T
Mori
T
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000740:Anemia / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D011756:Diphosphates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005743:Gastrectomy; D006400:Hematocrit; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D013997:Time Factors
D011756:Diphosphates; D006454:Hemoglobins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin; D007501:Iron; C049051:ferric pyrophosphate