Does early erythropoietin therapy decrease transfusions in anemia of prematurity?
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of early erythropoietin treatment on induction of erythropoiesis and the need for transfusion in Very Low Birth Weight (VLBW) infants with acute neonatal problems.


METHODS
The study group consisted of 14 VLBW prematures with gestational ages less than 32 weeks who were given subcutaneous erythropoietin (600 U/kg per week) and oral iron (3 mg/kg per day) during the first 7-8 weeks of their life, while 13 other VLBW prematures that were given placebo constituted the control group. Weekly hematocrit, (Hct) reticulocyte (Ret) values and the volume of blood drawn and transfused were recorded in the both groups.


RESULTS
The groups were comparable regarding with birth weights and gestational ages. The volume of the blood drawn (76.8 +/- 42.5 and 37.0 +/- 15.2) was higher and the volume of the transfusions (51.84 +/- 49.30 and 68.84 +/- 41.2) was lower in the study group but the differences between the groups were not significant (p>0.05). The hematocrit, the reticulocyte and the ferritin values were similar in both the groups at the end of the therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Under the neonatal intensive care circumstances of developing countries where blood volumes needed for laboratory analysis are still very high, phlebotomy losses can not be avoided. Thus early erythropoietin and iron therapy at these doses are not effective in decreasing the need for transfusion and induction of endogenous erythropoiesis.
Atasay
Begüm
B
Department of Neonatology and Molecular Pathology, Ankara University, Turkey. arsanm@superonline.com
Günlemez
Ayla
A
Akar
Nejat
N
Arsan
Saadet
S
D000751:Anemia, Neonatal / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006400:Hematocrit; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D007501:Iron / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin; D007501:Iron