title: Erythropoietin in pediatric cardiac surgery: clinical efficacy and effective dose.
abstract: We assessed the clinical efficacy and determined the effective dose of erythropoietin (EPO) in 48 children scheduled for open heart surgery without blood transfusion. The children were divided into three groups: group 1 (n=21) was treated with 300 U/kg of EPO; group 2 (n=11) was treated with 150 U/kg of EPO; and group 3 (n=16) was not treated with EPO. EPO was administered on the day of hospital admission (6 to 7 days prior to surgery), on the following day, immediately after surgery, and on the following day. Immediately after surgery, the hemoglobin concentration in groups 1 and 2 was significantly higher than that in group 3. The reticulocyte count in groups 1 and 2 was significantly higher than that in group 3. Open heart surgery was completed without transfusion in all 21 patients in group 1 (100%), 10 of 11 in group 2 (90.9%), and 11 of 16 in group 3 (68.8%). EPO caused no adverse reactions. In conclusion, EPO was effective as an adjuvant therapy for open heart surgery without blood transfusion in children. Administration of a relatively high dose of EPO (300 U/kg) seems to be effective for pediatric patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Mie University, School of Medicine, Tsu, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shimpo
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mizumoto
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Onoda
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yuasa
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Yada
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures; D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007501:Iron / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011184:Postoperative Period; D017701:Reticulocyte Count; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D004921:Erythropoietin; D007501:Iron