title: Recombinant human erythropoietin in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a pilot study of safety and feasibility.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  It has been shown that erythropoietin is neuroprotective in animal models of neurodegenerative diseases including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The aim of this study was to determine the safety and feasibility of repetitive high-dose recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) therapy in ALS patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two consecutive studies were conducted. We first recruited 26 subjects for an initial single-arm safety study. After a lead-in period of 3 months to assess the disease progression, rhEPO was infused intravenously (35,000 IU) once per month for 3 months, and the subjects were followed for an additional 3 months. The ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised (ALSFRS-R) was used for clinical assessment. After confirming the safety of rhEPO, 60 subjects were recruited for the second controlled study (rhEPO and control groups), which involved a total of 6 infusions at a rate of 1/month.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no serious adverse events in the first study. The mean rate of decline in the ALSFRS-R score was lower during the treatment period than during the lead-in period (mean±SD: 2.6±1.8 and 3.7±2.6, respectively; p=0.02). However, the rate of decline during the subsequent 3 months returned to that observed in the lead-in period. In the second study, the mean rate of decline in ALSFRS-R score was significantly lower in the rhEPO group than in the control group (during months 0-3, 1.8±1.7 vs. 3.1±2.3, p=0.03; during months 4-6, 2.1±2.2 vs. 3.5±2.3, p=0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intravenous high-dose rhEPO is both safe and feasible for the treatment of ALS. Further investigation using different intervals and doses should be considered.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun Young
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Chanil
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.affiliation: Bioengineering Institute, Corestem Inc., Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyung Suk
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Ki Wook
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Seong-Il
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Juhan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Seung Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
keywords: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; erythropoietin; pilot study