title: Long-acting erythropoietin: clinical studies and potential uses in neonates.
abstract: Aranesp (darbepoietin alfa) is a biologically modified form of recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEpo). Two additional carbohydrate-binding sites give Aranesp a half-life about three times that of rHuEpo. Extensive studies in adults and early studies in children indicate that Aranesp can be administered far less frequently than rHuEpo with an equivalent erythropoietic effect. This article reviews these studies and reports on the in vitro effects of Aranesp on human fetal and neonatal erythroid progenitors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics-Neonatology, Developmental Hematopoiesis Laboratory, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA. rohls@umn.edu
authors.forename: Robin K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Ohls
authors.forename: Aihua
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000740:Anemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D000068256:Darbepoetin alfa; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000379:methods; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D013678:Technology, Pharmaceutical
chemical_list: D004921:Erythropoietin; D000068256:Darbepoetin alfa