Efficacy of erythropoietin combined with enteral nutrition for the treatment of anemia in Crohn's disease: a prospective cohort study.
BACKGROUND
Anemia is a common and serious complication in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. The present study was dedicated to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of erythropoietin (EPO) combined with enteral nutrition (EN) in anemic Crohn's disease (CD) patients, in terms of hemoglobin level, treatment success rate, adverse events, and predictor of this therapy.


METHODS
We performed a prospective study in CD patients. On the basis of hemoglobin level, all enrolled patients were divided into anemic and nonanemic groups. The anemic group was further divided into EPO and non-EPO subgroups, depending on whether EPO was prescribed. Hematological and other parameters were measured initially and in the first 4 weeks after starting treatment.


RESULTS
In total, 109 patients (49 nonanemic and 60 anemic, including 38 EPO and 22 non-EPO) were included. The prevalence of anemia in CD was 55.05%. Age, disease behavior, Crohn's Disease Activity Index scores, C-reactive protein, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were significantly different between anemic and nonanemic groups. An increase in hemoglobin level and a significant decrease in C-reactive protein level were observed in the EPO treatment group. Treatment success rate was 63.16% in the EPO group, whereas none of patients achieved treatment success in the non-EPO group.


CONCLUSIONS
EPO combined with EN can improve the hemoglobin level in anemic CD patients.
Department of General Surgery, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
Song
S
Liu
Jianan
J
Ren
Zhiwu
Z
Hong
Dongsheng
D
Yan
Guosheng
G
Gu
Gang
G
Han
Gefei
G
Wang
Huajian
H
Ren
Jun
J
Chen
Jieshou
J
Li
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000740:Anemia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004750:Enteral Nutrition / Q000379:methods*; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
D015415:Biomarkers; D004921:Erythropoietin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein