title: Erythropoietic response induced by recombinant human erythropoietin in anemic cancer patients candidate to major abdominal surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This trial was designed to quantify the production of new red blood cells (RBCs) after treatment with recombinant human erythropoietin (r-HuEPO).
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty anemic patients with gastric or colorectal cancer were prospectively studied. The control group (n = 10) underwent surgery without delay. The experimental group (n = 10) received treatment with 500 U/kg of r-HuEPO divided in three doses which were administrated as follows: 300 U/kg 12 days before surgery and 100 U/kg 4 and 8 days later.
  
  
  RESULTS
  RBC gain was 210 +/- 75 mL in the experimental group which received treatment. The erythropoietic response was similar after 300 U/kg (59 +/- 36 mL) or 100 U/kg 75 +/- 24 mL). No correlation was found between RBC gain and age (r = 0.18) or baseline levels of erythropoietin (r = 0.08), hemoglobin (r = 0.06), erythrocytes (r = 0.01), reticulocytes (r = 0.01), iron (r = 0.28) and ferritin (r = 0.08). One treated patient in the experimental group was transfused with allogeneic blood (2 units) versus 5 control patients (overall 13 units) (p = 0.06).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Preoperative treatment with r-HuEPO improved erythropoiesis and reduced allogeneic transfusions in anemic cancer patients. No significant difference in RBC gains was noted between r-HuEPO administration at 300 U/kg and r-HuEPO administration at 100 U/kg. This result suggests a possible dose reduction for future trials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Scientific Institute San Raffaele Hospital, University of Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Braga
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gianotti
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Gentilini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vignali
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Di Carlo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000740:Anemia / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004906:Erythrocyte Count; D004920:Erythropoiesis; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000097:blood / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D006400:Hematocrit; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin; D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron