title: Erythropoietin improved neurologic outcomes in newborns with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of erythropoietin in neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), by using a randomized, prospective study design.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 167 term infants with moderate/severe HIE were assigned randomly to receive either erythropoietin (N = 83) or conventional treatment (N = 84). Recombinant human erythropoietin, at either 300 U/kg (N = 52) or 500 U/kg (N = 31), was administered every other day for 2 weeks, starting <48 hours after birth. The primary outcome was death or disability. Neurodevelopmental outcomes were assessed at 18 months of age.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Complete outcome data were available for 153 infants. Nine patients dropped out during treatment, and 5 patients were lost to follow-up monitoring. Death or moderate/severe disability occurred for 35 (43.8%) of 80 infants in the control group and 18 (24.6%) of 73 infants in the erythropoietin group (P = .017) at 18 months. The primary outcomes were not different between the 2 erythropoietin doses. Subgroup analyses indicated that erythropoietin improved long-term outcomes only for infants with moderate HIE (P = .001) and not those with severe HIE (P = .227). No negative hematopoietic side effects were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Repeated, low-dose, recombinant human erythropoietin treatment reduced the risk of disability for infants with moderate HIE, without apparent side effects.
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China. zhuc@zzu.edu.cn
authors: Changlian
authors: C
authors: Zhu
authors: Wenqing
authors: W
authors: Kang
authors: Falin
authors: F
authors: Xu
authors: Xiuyong
authors: X
authors: Cheng
authors: Zhan
authors: Z
authors: Zhang
authors: Liting
authors: L
authors: Jia
authors: Ling
authors: L
authors: Ji
authors: Xiaoyan
authors: X
authors: Guo
authors: Hong
authors: H
authors: Xiong
authors: George
authors: G
authors: Simbruner
authors: Klas
authors: K
authors: Blomgren
authors: Xiaoyang
authors: X
authors: Wang
mesh_terms: D001238:Asphyxia Neonatorum / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001925:Brain Damage, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D002681:China; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D020925:Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D008297:Male; D009460:Neurologic Examination / Q000187:drug effects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011596:Psychomotor Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin