Recombinant human erythropoietin therapy in low-birthweight preterm infants: a prospective controlled study.
BACKGROUND
This study aimed to detect the effectiveness of recombinant human erythropoietin therapy in preventing premature anemia in low-birthweight preterm infants.


METHODS
A total of 292 premature infants who were born earlier than 33 gestational weeks and smaller than 1500 g birthweight were enrolled into the study. In addition to their conventional supportive therapy (medications), recombinant human erythropoietin 200 U/kg twice a week, subcutaneously, was given to randomly selected 142 premature infants for 6 weeks. The blood count variables and need for transfusions were compared with the remaining 150 premature infants during 6 months follow up.


RESULTS
Serum erythropoietin levels were 11.3 +/- 6.1 mU/mL and 38.3 +/- 19.1 mU/mL in the erythropoietin group before and at the fourth week of the study, respectively (P < 0.001). Reticulocyte counts of the group treated with erythropoietin were 146 x 10(6) +/- 28 x 10(6)/mL and 122 x 10(6) +/- 27 x 10(6)/mL at the fourth and seventh week of the study, respectively, and these values were significantly higher when compared with the control group (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001). At the same period, hematocrit values were also found to be higher in the treatment group than the control group (P < 0.001). Serum ferritin levels were lower in the treatment group compared with the control group at the fourth week of the study. No side-effects related to erythropoietin usage were encountered. The need for packed cell transfusions were 47% in the group treated with erythropoietin and 62.6% in the control group. A statistically significant difference was found for transfusion needs between the control and treatment groups (P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Recombinant erythropoietin is effective therapy for maintaining stable hematocrit levels in low-birthweight preterm infants and prevents the need for blood transfusions.
Arif
Bahar
B
Department of Pediatrics, Gulhane Military Medical Academy Haydarpasa Training Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. Arbahar@Hotmail.com
Ferhan
Karademir
K
D000751:Anemia, Neonatal / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin