Erythropoietin: can we afford to use it? Can we afford not to?
Anaemia is a common side-effect of malignancy and cancer therapy. Both red cells and erythropoietin will improve anaemia; however, the scarcity and risks of allogeneic blood transfusion need to be carefully considered against the expense and benefits of recombinant human erythropoietin. Both treatment options have significant economic implications and the definitive evaluation from NICE must be awaited with much interest.
Laird
J
J
Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service, West of Scotland Blood Transfusion Centre, Glasgow, UK. janeylaird@doctors.org.uk
D000740:Anemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics / Q000209:etiology; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D017707:Erythrocyte Transfusion / Q000191:economics; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications
D004921:Erythropoietin