Recombinant erythropoietin compared with erythrocyte transfusion in the treatment of anemia of prematurity

1991 ◽  
Vol 119 (5) ◽  
pp. 781-788 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robin K. Ohls ◽  
Robert D. Christensen
Keyword(s):  
Recombinant Erythropoietin ◽  
Erythrocyte Transfusion ◽  
Anemia Of Prematurity

Recombinant Erythropoietin

1991 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 244-248
Author(s):  
Robert D. Christensen
Keyword(s):  
Renal Disease ◽  
Laboratory Investigation ◽  
Pediatric Patients ◽  
Human Gene ◽  
Cloning And Expression ◽  
Recombinant Erythropoietin ◽  
Gene Encoding ◽  
Risks And Benefits ◽  
Anemia Of Prematurity ◽  
Health And Disease

Cloning and expression of the human gene encoding erythropoietin has resulted in the availability of recombinant erythropoietin for clinical and laboratory investigation. Results of such investigations are clarifying the mechanisms that regulate production of erythropoietin in health and disease. It seems likely that erythropoietin administration will reduce, if not replace, erythrocyte transfusions for certain pediatric patients. Those with the anemia of end-state renal disease and anemia of prematurity may be most likely to benefit. Clearly, additional well-controlled studies to assess the risks and benefits of erythropoietin administration will be needed prior to widespread usage of erythropoietin for anemic children.

Recombinant Erythropoietic Growth Factors as an Alternative to Erythrocyte Transfusion for Patients With "Anemia of Prematurity"

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1989 ◽  
Vol 83 (5) ◽  
pp. 793-796
Author(s):  
ROBERT D. CHRISTENSEN
Keyword(s):  
Growth Factors ◽  
Vitamin E ◽  
Preterm Infants ◽  
Laboratory Tests ◽  
Nutritional Deficiencies ◽  
Erythrocyte Transfusion ◽  
Blood Withdrawal ◽  
Anemia Of Prematurity ◽  
Genetic Abnormalities ◽  
Sick Children

Erythrocyte transfusion is a commonly used treatment in neonatal medicine. This was illustrated by Blanchette and Zipursky who tabulated the transfusions given to preterm infants at the Hospital for Sick Children. They reported that in the first 6 weeks of life 90% of patients received at least one transfusion and nearly 50% of patients received cumulative transfusions in excess of their total circulating RBC mass. During the first 2 weeks of life most transfusions given to preterm infants are for the purpose of replacing blood withdrawn for laboratory tests. However, after that time transfusions are usually given for an anemia that is not attributable to blood withdrawal, nutritional deficiencies (vitamin E, iron, folate, etc) or genetic abnormalities.

Recombinant Erythropoietin in Anemia of Prematurity: Five Years Later

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 92 (4) ◽  
pp. 614-617
Author(s):  
KEVIN SHANNON
Keyword(s):  
Recombinant Human Erythropoietin ◽  
Recombinant Erythropoietin ◽  
Red Cell ◽  
Erythroid Progenitors ◽  
Human Erythropoietin ◽  
Therapeutic Trials ◽  
Premature Babies ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
Anemia Of Prematurity

In 1988, Dr James Stockman discussed the anemia of prematurity in a fascinating editorial that anticipated much of what has unfolded as therapeutic trials using recombinant human erythropoietin (r-HuEPO) were initiated. Dr Stockman began by addressing the implications of then-recent results from my laboratory and from that of Robert Christensen which demonstrated large numbers of committed erythroid progenitors in the blood and bone marrow of small premature babies that responded normally to r-HuEPO in vitro. These data effectively closed the pathophysiologic loop in anemia of prematurity and strongly implicated inadequate production of erythropoietin (EPO) as the underlying reason erythropoiesis is quantitatively insufficient in this clinical setting (see reference 4 for a review). By then, early studies had shown that treatment with r-HuEPO corrects the anemia associated with chronic renal failure, a disorder that resembles anemia of prematurity in that it is characterized by low EPO levels and inadequate red cell production.

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