title: Early erythropoietin in post-diarrheal hemolytic uremic syndrome: a case-control study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although erythropoietin (EPO) deficiency has been reported in children with post-diarrheal hemolytic uremic syndrome (D + HUS), very limited clinical data on EPO use in this disease are currently available. In this case-control study we examined whether EPO administration would reduce the number of red blood cell (RBC) transfusions in D + HUS patients under our care.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from children treated exclusively with RBC transfusions (controls; n = 21) were retrospectively compared with data on those who also received EPO for the treatment of anemia (cases; n = 21).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both patient groups were similar in age (p = 0.9), gender (p = 0.12), weight (p = 1.00) and height (p = 0.66). Acute phase severity was also comparable, as inferred by the need for dialysis (p = 0.74), the duration of dialysis (p = 0.3), length of hospitalization (p = 0.81), presence of severe bowel (p = 1.00) or neurological injury (p = 0.69), arterial hypertension (p = 1.00) and death (p = 1.00). No differences in the hemoglobin level at admission (p = 0.51) and discharge (p = 0.28) were noted. Three children treated with EPO and two controls did not require any RBC transfusion (p = 1.00). Median number of RBC transfusions needed by cases and controls was 2 (p = 0.52).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatment with EPO did not reduce the number of RBC transfusions in D + HUS children. Assessment of EPO efficacy in D + HUS merits further studies.
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Nefrología, Hospital General de Niños Pedro de Elizalde, Montes de Oca 40, CP 1270, Buenos Aires, Argentina, abalestracci@yahoo.com.ar.
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Balestracci
authors.forename: Sandra Mariel
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Ismael
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Toledo
authors.forename: Caupolican
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Alvarado
authors.forename: Raquel Eva
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Wainsztein
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D000068817:Epoetin Alfa; D017707:Erythrocyte Transfusion; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006397:Hematinics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006463:Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D006397:Hematinics; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin; D000068817:Epoetin Alfa