title: Reduction in transfusion requirements with early epoetin alfa treatment in pediatric patients with solid tumors: a case-control study.
abstract: In a single-center, case-control study the authors evaluated the efficacy and safety of epoetin alfa in pediatric cancer patients receiving platinum- or nonplatinum-based chemotherapy. Thirty-seven patients with solid tumors received epoetin alfa 3 times weekly at a dose of 150 IU/kg (hemoglobin [Hb] > or = 12 g/dL and < or = 16 g/dL) or 300 IU/kg (Hb) < 12 g/dL) for 28 weeks. Data from treated patients were compared to data from 37 untreated control patients. Significant between-group differences in favor of the epoetin alfa-treated Patients were observed in overall red blood cell transfusion requirements (p = .007) and overall platelet transfusion requirements (p = .010). Additionally, significant between-group differences favoring epoetin alfa were seen by Kaplan-Meier plots, estimating mean time to first red blood cell transfusion (p = .0004). Mean Hb (g/dL) was maintained at baseline levels in the epoetin alfa group for most of the course of the study. No drug-related adverse events were seen in epoetin alfa-treated patients.
authors.affiliation: St. Anna Children's Hospital, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kronberger
authors.forename: Gustav
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fischmeister
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Poetschger
authors.forename: Helmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gadner
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zoubek
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000740:Anemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004347:Drug Interactions; D000068817:Epoetin Alfa; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000633:toxicity; D005260:Female; D006397:Hematinics / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000633:toxicity; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000628:therapy; D017671:Platinum Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013810:Therapeutic Equivalency; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D006397:Hematinics; D006454:Hemoglobins; D017671:Platinum Compounds; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin; D000068817:Epoetin Alfa