title: Recombinant human erythropoietin for the treatment of anemia in children with solid malignant tumors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cancer is often associated with chronic anemia which frequently requires blood transfusions. This study was performed to assess the efficacy and safety of r-HuEPO therapy in children with cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-five patients under 18 years of age with solid malignant tumors were treated with 150 U/kg/day of r-HuEPO 5 times weekly for 12 weeks. Response was defined as an increase of the baseline hemoglobin level by at least 2 g/dl. r-HuEPO patients were compared to 25 matched historical controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Response was achieved in 72% of r-HuEPO patients. Hemoglobin level increased from 9.8 +/- 0.6 g/dl at baseline to 12.4 +/- 1.7 g/dl at the end of treatment in the r-HuEPO group and increased from 9.5 +/- 0.7 g/dl to 9.6 +/- 1.4 g/dl in the control group (P < .001, Student's t-test). Only 16% of patients receiving r-HuEPO required blood transfusions vs 96% of control patients (P < .001, Student's t-test), with mean units of blood transfused per patient being 0.35 in the r-HuEPO group and 3.56 in controls (P < .001, Student's t-test). There was a statistically significance improvement in Karnofsky's index in r-HuEPO patients. No adverse reaction related to r-HuEPO therapy was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  r-HuEPO is a safe and effective means of increasing hemoglobin level and reducing blood requirements in children with solid malignant tumors receiving chemotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Oncology, School of Medicine, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: León
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jiménez
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Barona
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sierrasesúmaga
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000740:Anemia / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin; D005293:Ferritins