[Erythropoietin alone or as an adjuvant for the autologous blood donation program in major orthopedic surgery].
BACKGROUND
Patients with anemia undergoing elective joint replacement are often excluded from preoperative autologous donation (PAD). The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of preoperative erythropoietin (epoetin alpha) as an adjuvant treatment to PAD versus preoperative erythropoietin alfa alone in patients with mild anemia undergoing major orthopedic surgery.


METHODS
The study enrolled 75 patients scheduled for total joint arthropalsty of the hip or knee or spinal surgery and with a hemoglobin (Hb) concentration between 10 and 13 g/dL. Group 1 patients were assigned to receive weekly doses of subcutaneous epoetin alpha (40,000 IU) 21, 14, and 7 days before surgery and to participate in the PAD program; group 2 patients were excluded from the PAD program and received 2 doses of epoetin alpha every week over the same period.


RESULTS
Group 1 (n = 39) and group 2 (n = 36) were similar with respect to patient characteristics, biological parameters, and surgical procedures, In group 1, mean preoperative Hb rose fom 12.5 g/dL to 12.8 g/dL, patients received a mean 5.1 doses of epoetin alpha, and they gave a mean 1.9 units of autologus blood and 1 received allogenic blood. In group 30.7% received transfusions of autologous blood and 1 received allogenic blood. In group 2, preoperative Hb increased from 11.7 g/dL to 13.5 g/dL, patients received 3.8 doses of epoetin alpha, and 3 were transfused with allogenic blood (P > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Epoetin alpha alone and erythropoietin as a adjuvant to a PAD program are equally effective in reducing allogenic transfusion during hip and knee arthroplasty and spinal column surgery of up to 3 spaces.
Servicio de Anestesiología, Reanimación y Terapéutica del dolor, Hospital de l'Esperança, C/Sant Josep de la Muntanya, 12, 08024 Barcelona. Ebisbe@imas.imim.es
E
E
Bisbe
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M
Sáez
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Nomen
J
J
Castillo
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Santiveri
C
C
Mestre
X
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Cano
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000740:Anemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000628:therapy; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D001804:Blood Transfusion, Autologous; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D000068817:Epoetin Alfa; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
D006454:Hemoglobins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin; D000068817:Epoetin Alfa