title: Preventive effect of different dosage of recombinant human erythropoietin on anemia of premature infants.
abstract: To assess the efficacy and the optimum dose of recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEpo) on the anemia of premature, 45 preterm infants with a gestational age of less than 35 weeks and birth weight of less 1,800 g were randomly assigned to treatment group 1 (n = 15, receiving subcutaneous rhEpo 150 U/kg.time), treatment group 2 (n = 15, receiving 250 U/kg.time), three times a week for 6 weeks, and control group (n = 15, no treatment was given). All preterm infants received supplements of vitamin E (20 IU) and iron (20 mg) each day. Our results showed that postnatal decline of hemoglobin (Hb) and hematocrit (Hct) were lessened in the treatment groups, particularly in the group 2 and the differences were very significant (P < 0.0001 for all). Treated infants had significantly higher reticulocyte counts (Ret) (P < 0.0001 for all), but there was no significant difference between the two treatment groups (P > 0.05). Serum iron dropped significantly in the treatment groups as compared with control group (P < 0.01 for all), but no dose-dependent relationship was observed in treated infants (P > 0.05). After treatment, serum levels of erythropoietin was higher in group 2 than those in group 1 and control group (P < 0.0001, P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively). There was no significant difference between group 1 and control group (P > 0.05). No side effects related to rhEpo therapy were observed. Our study suggested that rhEpo therapy stimulates endogenous erythropoiesis and enhances Ret, Hct and level of Hb in a dose-dependent manner in premature infants. The therapy is more efficient when given in higher dosages.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical University, Wuhan.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005296:Ferrous Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
chemical_list: D005296:Ferrous Compounds; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin