[Efficacy of early erythropoietin use in critically ill, very-low-birthweight premature newborn infants: controlled clinical trial].
OBJECTIVE
To determine the efficacy of erythropoietin in very low birth weight (VLBW) newborns less than 72 h of age.


METHODS
We randomly assigned 40 critically ill newborn VLBW infants to receive either recombinant human erythropoietin (EPO) 150 units/kg per day (21 patients) or placebo (19 patients) during their first six weeks of life. The observers were unaware of the treatment assignments. Frequency of erythrocyte transfusion, adverse effects and haematologic measures were evaluated and compared.


RESULTS
Before treatment gestational age, weight, haemoglobin, and pathology were similar in both groups. During the subsequent 6 weeks, haemoglobin and haematocrit of the placebo group fell significantly below those of the EPO recipients. More transfusions were received by the placebo recipients (7/21) than by the EPO recipients (2/21; p = 0.04). No adverse effects of EPO were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
We recommend the administration of recombinant human erythropoietin since the first 72 h of age, because of the high frequency of anaemia, the efficacy of EPO and lack of side effects.
Lima-Rogel
V
V
Servicio de Neonatología, Hospital Central Dr. Ignacio Morones Prieto, Facultad de Medicina, UASLP, San Luis Potosi, México.
Torres-Montes
A
A
Espinosa Griesse
S
S
Villegas Alvarez
C
C
Hernández-Sierra
F
F
Bissett Mandeville
P
P
Correa González
C
C
D000740:Anemia / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003422:Critical Care; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D017707:Erythrocyte Transfusion / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006400:Hematocrit; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D006454:Hemoglobins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin