Recombinant human erythropoietin in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome and myelofibrosis.
In a dose titration study we tested the efficacy and tolerance of recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) in 10 patients with myelodysplasia (MDS) and 2 patients with idiopathic myelofibrosis. Patients with a haemoglobin level < 100 g/l were treated as out-patients for 12 weeks with daily doses ranging from 30 U/kg body weight (BW) up to 240 U/kg BW in non-responders. Of the 10 patients with MDS, 6 were suffering from refractory anaemia with sideroblasts (RAS) and 4 from refractory anaemia with an excess of blasts. The median age was 73 years (range 41-81). Two patients with RAS responded with a rise in haemoglobin concentration to > 130 g/l. They had not been transfusion-dependent prior to treatment. Both patients had relatively low serum concentrations of immunoreactive EPO. There was neither a rise in haemoglobin nor a reduction in transfusion dependence in any of the other patients. It may be concluded that rhEPO is possibly effective in a subgroup of MDS patients where the disease is less advanced. None of the transfusion-dependent patients benefited.
Mohr
B
B
Department of Haematology and Oncology, Universitätsklinikum Rudolf Virchow, Berlin, FRG.
Herrmann
R
R
Huhn
D
D
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000753:Anemia, Refractory / Q000188:drug therapy; D000754:Anemia, Refractory, with Excess of Blasts / Q000188:drug therapy; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009190:Myelodysplastic Syndromes / Q000188:drug therapy*; D055728:Primary Myelofibrosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use
D006454:Hemoglobins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin