title: Comparison between one and three doses a week of recombinant erythropoietin in very low birth weight infants.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare transfusion requirements and erythropoietic response in preterms between schedules of rEPO administration once or three times per week, using the same weekly dose.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, randomized trial including infants weighing <1500 g at birth and/or were 32 weeks' gestation: Group 1 (60 infants) received subcutaneous rEPO at 250 units kg(-1) per dose, three times weekly for 6 weeks; Group 2 (59 infants), at 750 units kg(-1) per dose, once weekly for 6 weeks. Efficacy was evaluated based on the transfusion requirement, hemoglobin changes, reticulocyte counts, serum transferrin receptor (sTfR) and serum ferritin. The frequency of adverse effects was registered in both groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 13 infants were transfused in each group (relative risk: 0.98; 95% confidence interval: 0.4 to 2.3). Phlebotomy loss and red blood cell transfusion volumes received were similar in both groups. Hemoglobin levels were lower at end of study in Group 2 (10.6±1.5 g dl(-1) versus 11.5±1.4 g dl(-1); P<0.003). At end of study, reticulocyte counts and sTfR values increased and serum ferritin values decreased, without significant differences between the two groups. Incidence of complications was similar in both groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The once-weekly rEPO schedule for very low birth weight infants proved as effective as the three-times-weekly schedule, in relation to erythropoietic stimulus and transfusion requirement.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Servicio de Pediatría, Hospital Torrecárdenas, Almería, Spain. mavazquezl@cajamar.es
authors.forename: M Á
authors.initials: MÁ
authors.lastname: Vázquez López
authors.forename: M Á
authors.initials: MÁ
authors.lastname: Llamas
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Galera
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Sanchez
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lendinez
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gonzalez-Ripoll
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Díez
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bonillo
mesh_terms: D000751:Anemia, Neonatal / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D016903:Drug Monitoring; D004920:Erythropoiesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin / Q000097:blood; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D017701:Reticulocyte Count; D013922:Thrombocytosis / Q000209:etiology; D065227:Transfusion Reaction; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin; D005293:Ferritins