Effect of recombinant human erythropoietin in preterm infants.
Twenty-five premature infants (mean gestational age+/-SD, 31.4+/-1.9 weeks) were administered subcutaneously recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEpo) at a dose of 300 u/kg of body weight three times a week beginning on the third day of life and continuing for 6 weeks. The controls (n=23) were premature infants with a mean gestational age of 32.2+/-2.3 weeks who did not receive rHuEpo. Haematological indices, haemoglobin and serum phosphate (Pi), and red blood cell (RBC) phosphate metabolites (ATP, 2,3-DPG, RBCPi) were tested monthly until the 6th month and thereafter at the 9th and 12th months of life. The level of serum soluble transferrin receptors (sTfR) correlated significantly with rHuEpo (p<0.05). The ratio of sTfR to log (ferritin) was significantly higher (p<0.001) in the infants treated with rHuEpo than the controls. Intracellular organic and inorganic Pi changes were not affected by the Epo administration. The RBC 2,3-DPG seemed adequate in infants receiving rHuEpo.
Krallis
N
N
Child Health Department, Neonatology Clinic, University of Ioannina, Medical School, Greece.
Cholevas
V
V
Mavridis
A
A
Georgiou
I
I
Bourantas
K
K
Andronikou
S
S
D019794:2,3-Diphosphoglycerate / Q000097:blood; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000097:blood; D000740:Anemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D010710:Phosphates / Q000097:blood*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin / Q000097:blood; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D010710:Phosphates; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin; D019794:2,3-Diphosphoglycerate; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate