title: Preoperative administration of recombinant human erythropoietin in patients undergoing gynecologic surgery.
abstract: The effect of preoperative recombinant human erythropoietin (r-HuEPO) in anemic women undergoing gynecologic surgery for benign diseases was evaluated in this prospective, not randomized study. One hundred and twenty women were included in the study. Sixty women were treated preoperatively with r-HuEPO at three different cumulative doses: 80,000, 120,000 and 160,000 IU. Sixty nonanemic women were not treated. Baseline hemoglobin (Hb) levels were measured. Hb levels were also measured on the day of the surgery before starting the procedure, on postoperative day 1 and on the day of discharge from the hospital. Treatment with r-HuEPO significantly increased both preoperative Hb levels and Hb levels at discharge. Conversely, Hb levels at discharge were lower than baseline levels in untreated women. The effect of r-HuEPO on Hb levels was exerted in a dose-dependent fashion. No adverse and/or side effects of treatment were observed. Preoperative treatment with r-HuEPO in selected anemic patients undergoing gynecologic surgery for benign diseases seems to be a safe and useful tool to reduce the need for red blood cell transfusions.
authors.affiliation: Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Rome 'or Vergata, S. Eugenio Hospital, Rome, Italy. sestifrancesco@tiscalinet.it
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sesti
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ticconi
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bonifacio
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Piccione
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000740:Anemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D008875:Middle Aged; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin