Current Controversies in the Management of the Anemia of Prematurity

Preterm infants, especially those with extremely low birth weight (ELBW) are exposed to frequent blood draws as part of their care in the neonatal intensive care unit. ELBW infants develop the anemia of prematurity (AOP), a hypo-proliferative anemia marked by inadequate production of erythropoietin...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Seminars in perinatology 2009-02, Vol.33 (1), p.29-34
Main Authors: Bishara, Nader, MD, Ohls, Robin K., MD
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
anemia
Anemia, Neonatal - blood
Anemia, Neonatal - drug therapy
Anemia, Neonatal - therapy
Blood Transfusion - methods
erythropoietin
Erythropoietin - therapeutic use
Hematocrit
Humans
Infant, Extremely Low Birth Weight - blood
Infant, Newborn
Infant, Premature - blood
Infant, Premature, Diseases - blood
Infant, Premature, Diseases - drug therapy
Infant, Premature, Diseases - therapy
Neonatal and Perinatal Medicine
oxygen delivery
prematurity
transfusion
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Summary:Preterm infants, especially those with extremely low birth weight (ELBW) are exposed to frequent blood draws as part of their care in the neonatal intensive care unit. ELBW infants develop the anemia of prematurity (AOP), a hypo-proliferative anemia marked by inadequate production of erythropoietin (Epo). Treatment of AOP includes red blood cell transfusions, which are given to preterm infants based on indications and guidelines (hematocrit/hemoglobin levels, ventilation and oxygen need, apneas and bradycardias, poor weight gain) that are relatively non-specific. In this article we review recent studies evaluating transfusion guidelines, discuss ways to decrease phlebotomy losses and examine the use of red cell growth factors such as Epo in preventing and treating anemia in preterm infants.
ISSN:0146-0005
1558-075X
DOI:10.1053/j.semperi.2008.10.006