Effect of short term recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) therapy in the prevention of anemia of prematurity (AOP) in very low birth weight (VLBW) neonates

2013 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 119-123 ◽  
Author(s):  
BHN Yasmeen ◽  
MAKA Chowdhury ◽  
MM Hoque ◽  
MM Hossain ◽  
R Jahan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Folic Acid ◽  
Birth Weight ◽  
Low Birth Weight ◽  
Recombinant Human Erythropoietin ◽  
Very Low Birth Weight ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Human Erythropoietin ◽  
Anaemia Of Prematurity

Premature infants especially those with birth weight <1500 g suffer from Anaemia of prematurity (AOP) and associated problems. Erythropoietin therapy is a safe effective way to prevent and to treat anaemia of prematurity. To evaluate the effect of short term administration of recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) with iron and folic acid in very low birth weight (VLBW) neonates in the prevention of anaemia of prematurity. A randomized controlled trial was carried out at Dhaka Shishu Hospital. Sixty preterm very low birth weight (PTVLBW) babies were enrolled in this study. Thirty were assigned to rHuEPO group and 30 as control. Baseline haematologic values were estimated before administration of rHuEPO. From day 7 of life rHuEPO-200 IU/kg/dose subcutaneously every alternate day for 2 weeks was administered to rHuEPO group. All infants in both groups have received oral iron, folic acid from day 14. Clinical and haematological assessment was done at 6 and 10 weeks of life. Baseline clinical characteristics and haematologic values were almost similar in both groups. This study has shown increase in haematological values(haemoglobin and haematocrit) and reduction in the number of blood transfusions during both the 1st and 2nd follow up in rHuEPO group in comparison to control group (p<0.01). Short term rHuEPO appears to be very effective in prevention of Anaemia of prematurity. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bmrcb.v38i3.14340 Bangladesh Med Res Counc Bull 2012; 38(3): 119-123 (December)

Recombinant Human Erythropoietin Stimulates Erythropoiesis and Reduces Erythrocyte Transfusions in Very Low Birth Weight Preterm Infants

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 95 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Kevin M. Shannon ◽  
Julian F. Keith ◽  
William C. Mentzer ◽  
Richard A. Ehrenkranz ◽  
Mark S. Brown ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Placebo Group ◽  
Birth Weight ◽  
Low Birth Weight ◽  
Preterm Infants ◽  
Recombinant Human Erythropoietin ◽  
Very Low Birth Weight ◽  
Group Versus ◽  
Weekly Dose ◽  
Human Erythropoietin ◽  
Transfusion Requirements

Design and methods. We hypothesized that treatment with recombinant human erythropoietin (r-HuEPO) would stimulate erythropoiesis and would thereby reduce the need for erythrocyte transfusions in preterm infants. We treated 157 preterm infants born at 26.9 ± 1.6 weeks of gestation who weighed 924 ± 183 g at birth with either subcutaneous r-HuEPO (100 U/kg/d, 5 days per week) or placebo for 6 weeks in a randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial. All patients received oral iron and were managed according to uniform conservative transfusion guidelines. Results. Treatment with r-HuEPO was associated with fewer erythrocyte transfusions (1.1 ± 1.5 per infant in the r-HuEPO group versus 1.6 ± 1.7 per infant in the placebo group; P = .046) and with a reduction in the volume of packed erythrocytes transfused (16.5 ± 23.0 mL versus 23.9 ± 25.7 mL per infant; P = .023). Overall, 43% of the infants in the r-HuEPO group and 31% of placebo-treated infants were transfusion-free during the study (P = .18). The volume of blood removed for laboratory tests and the need for respiratory support at the start of treatment had major effects on transfusion requirements independent of r-HuEPO. Reticulocyte counts were higher during treatment in the r-HuEPO group (P = .0001), and r-HuEPO-treated infants had higher hematocrit values at the end of the study (32% versus 27.3% in the placebo group; P = .0001). We found no differences in the incidence of major complications of prematurity between the treatment groups. Conclusion. We conclude that treatment with r-HuEPO at a weekly dose of 500 U/kg stimulates erythropoiesis, moderates the course of anemia, is associated with a reduction in erythrocyte transfusions, and appears safe in very low birth weight preterm infants who are receiving iron supplements. Conservative transfusion criteria, minimization of phlebotomy losses, and treatment with r-HuEPO are complementary strategies to reduce erythrocyte transfusions in these infants.

Changes in thrombopoiesis and platelet reactivity in extremely low birth weight infants undergoing erythropoietin therapy for treatment of anaemia of prematurity

2005 ◽  
Vol 93 (01) ◽  
pp. 118-123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesco Cardona ◽  
Jens Schwindt ◽  
Angelika Berger ◽  
Stefan Kuhle ◽  
Monika Homoncik ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Birth Weight ◽  
Low Birth Weight ◽  
Platelet Reactivity ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Extremely Low Birth Weight ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Thiazole Orange ◽  
Low Birth Weight Infants ◽  
Anaemia Of Prematurity ◽  
Randomised Controlled

SummaryErythropoietin (Epo) is frequently administered to premature infants to stimulate erythropoiesis. There is evidence from studies in animals and healthy adults that Epo also interacts with thrombopoiesis and platelet function.This study investigates the effect of Epo therapy on platelet reactivity, peripheral platelet counts and thiazole orange-positive (TO+) platelets in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants. In a randomised-controlled trial, ELBW infants with a birth weight ≤ 800g and a gestational age ≤ 32 weeks were either randomised to a group receiving Epo during the first weeks of life or to a control group. Our results show that thrombin receptor-activating peptide (TRAP-6) -induced expression of P-selectin increased significantly during the first two weeks of Epo treatment.With the exception of week five, the number of TO+ platelets was significantly higher during the first eight weeks in Epo-treated infants compared to controls. The increase of TO+ platelets was not paralleled by an increase in total platelet count.We can conclude that Epo therapy has a short-lasting effect on platelet reactivity toTRAP-6 in ELBW infants during the first two weeks of life.Furthermore, Epo therapy is associated with an increase in the number of TO+ platelets compared to controls.

The Effect of Epoetin Beta (Recombinant Human Erythropoietin) on the Need for Transfusion in Very-Low-Birth-Weight Infants

1994 ◽  
Vol 330 (17) ◽  
pp. 1173-1178 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rolf F. Maier ◽  
Michael Obladen ◽  
Paul Scigalla ◽  
Otwin Linderkamp ◽  
Gabriel Duc ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Birth Weight ◽  
Low Birth Weight ◽  
Recombinant Human Erythropoietin ◽  
Very Low Birth Weight ◽  
Low Birth Weight Infants ◽  
Epoetin Beta ◽  
Human Erythropoietin
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