Abstract
Objective. To investigate the effect of early erythropoietin treatment on induction of erythropoiesis and the need for transfusion in Very Low Birth Weight (VLBW) infants with acute neonatal problems.Methods. The study group consisted of 14 VLBW prematures with gestational ages less than 32 weeks who were given subcutaneous erythropoietin (600 U/kg per week) and oral iron (3 mg/kg per day) during the first 7–8 weeks of their life, while 13 other VLBW prematures that were given placebo constituted the control group. Weekly hemotocrit, (Hct) reticulocyte (Ret) values and the volume of blood drawn and transfused were recorded in the both groups.Results. The groups were comparable regarding with birth weights and gestational ages. The volume of the blood drawn (76.8 ± 42.5 and 37.0 ± 15.2) was higher and the volume of the transfusions (51.84 ± 49.30 and 68.84 ± 41.2) was lower in the study group but the differences between the groups were not significant (p>0.05). The hemotocrit, the reticulocyte and the ferritin values were similar in both the groups at the end of the therapy.Conclusion. Under the neonatal intensive care circumstances of developing countries where blood volumes needed for laboratory analysis are still very high, phlebotomy losses can not be avoided. Thus early erythropoietin and iron therapy at these doses are not effective in decreasing the need for transfusion and induction of endogenous erythropoiesis.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ohls RK, Ehrenkranz RA, Lemons JAet al. A multicenter randomized double-masked placebo controlled trial of early erytropoietin and iron administration to preterm infants.Pediatr Res 1999; 45: 216A.
Doyle JJ. The role of erythropoietin in the anemia of prematurity.Sem Perinatol 1997; 21: 20–27.
Ohls RK, Christensen RD. Recombinant erythropoietin compared with erythrocyte transfusion in the treatment of anemia of prematurity.J Pediatr 1991; 119: 781.
Soubasi V, Kremenopoulos G, Diamanti Eet al. Follow-up of very low birth weight infants after erythropoietin treatment to prevent anemia of prematurity.J Pediatr 1995; 127: 291.
Brown MS, Berman ER, Luckey D. Prediction of the need for transfusion during anemia of prematurity.J Pediatr 1990; 116–773.
Blanchette VS, Zipursky A. Assesment of anemia in newborn infants.Cli Perinatol 1984; 11: 489.
Shannon KM, Mentzer WC, Abels RIet al. Recombinant human erythropoietin in the anemia of prematurity: Results of a placebo controlled pilot-study.J Pediatr 1991; 118: 949.
Haga P, Bechensteen AG, Halvorsen S. Erytropoietin treatment of protein and iron supplemented premature AGA infants.Pediatr Res 1992; 31: 267A.
Strauss RG. Recombinant erythropoietin for the anemia of prematurity: still a promise, not a pancea.J Pediatr 1997; 131: 653–655.
Maier RF, Obladen M, Scigalla Pet al. The effect of epoetin beta on the need for transfusion in VLBW infants.N EngI J Med 1994; 330: 1173.
Liu EA, Mannina FL, Lane TA. Prospective, randomized trial of the safety and efficacy of a limited donor exposure transfusion program for premature neonates.J Pediatr 1994; 125: 192.
Lee DA, Siagle TA, Jackson TMet al. Reducing blood donor exposures in low birth weight infants by the use of older, unwashed packed red blood cells.J Pediatr 1995; 126: 280.
Vamvakas EC, Strauss RV. Meta analysis of controlled clinical trials studying the efficacy of rHuEPO in reducing blood transfusions in the anemia of prematurity.Transfusion 2001; 41: 406–414.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Atasay, B., Günlemez, A., Akar, N. et al. Does early erythropoietin therapy decrease transfusions in anemia of prematurity ?. Indian J Pediatr 69, 389–391 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02722624
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02722624