title: [Erythropoietin treatment in critically ill children].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze whether erythropoietin treatment increases hemoglobin and decreases transfusion requirements in critically ill children.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed an observational, prospective study of 23 critically ill children aged between 1 month and 6 years. Recombinant human eritropoietin (rHuEPO) was administered at a dosage of 150-750 U/kg/week over 3 days. Hemogram, reticulocyte, iron metabolism, serum ferritin and transferrin were measured before treatment started and weekly thereafter.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After erythropoietin treatment, hematocrit, hemoglobin and red blood cells progressively increased, with a maximal response in the sixth week. At the end of treatment, hemoglobin increased 1.68 g/dl, hematocrit by 5 % and erythrocytes 600,000/ml/mm3. Transfusion requirements decreased from 59 transfusions at baseline to 12 in the first week of treatment and none from the sixth week. No treatment-related adverse effects were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Erythropoietin can be an effective treatment for anemia in some critically ill children, decreasing the number of transfusions and increasing hemoglobin.
authors.affiliation: Sección de Cuidados Intensivos Pediátricos, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chacón Aguilar
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Escorial Briso-Montiano
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sopetrán Rey García
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: García Sanz
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rupérez Lucas
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: López-Herce Cid
mesh_terms: D000740:Anemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016638:Critical Illness; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D004921:Erythropoietin