[Effects of recombinant human erythropoietin in preterm newborns with infectious diseases].
OBJECTIVE
To study the effects of recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEpo) in preterm newborns (PTNs) with serious infectious diseases.


METHODS
A not randomized case-control study was carried out in 34 preterm newborns with diagnosis of serious infectious pathologies, gestational age up to 35 weeks, birth weight less than 1500 g and clinical stability. Newborns selected for treatment with rHuEpo received 400 U/kg erythropoietin ss, subcutaneously twice a week. Oral iron supplementation was initiated when the levels of serum ferritin were lower than 60 mcg/l. The study was continued for six weeks or until the patient was discharged from the hospital. Erythropoiesis, granulopoiesis, thrombocytopoiesis, the need for transfusions and the occurrence of new episodes of infectious disease were analyzed.


RESULTS
In the treated group there was a significant increase in the number of reticulocytes, although there was no statistically significant difference between the groups with regard to the number or volume of transfusions. There was no significant difference in neutrophils and platelet values.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of rHuEpo, 800 U/kg/week, in PTNs with infectious diseases was effective in inducing erythropoiesis, without significant changes in the number of neutrophils or platelets. This strategy, and the accurate control of the blood collected for laboratory exams, may be beneficial for prevention of the anemia in PTNs with serious infectious diseases.
de Vasconcelos P Aguiar
Iara Flávia
IF
Unidade de Cuidados Intensivos Neonatal do Instituto da Criança, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil. iaraflavia@uol.com.br
Krebs
Vera Lúcia Jornada
VL
Gualandro
Sandra F M
SF
Silveira
Paulo A A
PA
Vaz
Flávio Adolfo Costa
FA
D000751:Anemia, Neonatal / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D017707:Erythrocyte Transfusion / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004920:Erythropoiesis / Q000502:physiology; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000097:blood*; D007234:Infant, Premature; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight / Q000097:blood*; D007501:Iron / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D009504:Neutrophils; D010976:Platelet Count; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D017701:Reticulocyte Count; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin; D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron