Erythropoietin to reduce allogeneic red blood cell transfusion in patients undergoing total hip or knee arthroplasty

• Published in: Vox sanguinis 2016-10, Vol.111 (3), p.219-225
• Main Authors: Voorn, V. M. A., van der Hout, A., So-Osman, C., Vliet Vlieland, T. P. M., Nelissen, R. G. H. H., van den Akker-van Marle, M. E., Dahan, A., Marang-van de Mheen, P. J., van Bodegom-Vos, L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: allogeneic red blood cell transfusion; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee; Blood transfusions; Clinical Trials as Topic; Erythrocyte Transfusion; Erythrocytes; Erythrocytes - cytology; Erythrocytes - drug effects; Erythrocytes - metabolism; erythropoietin; Erythropoietin - administration & dosage; Erythropoietin - pharmacology; hip arthroplasty; Hormones; Humans; knee arthroplasty; meta-analysis; Orthopedics; patient blood management; Transplantation, Homologous; Venous Thrombosis - prevention & control
• ISSN: 0042-9007; 1423-0410
• DOI: 10.1111/vox.12412

Background and Objectives To determine the value of erythropoietin in reducing allogeneic transfusions, it is important to assess the effects, safety and costs for individual indications. Previous studies neither compared the effects of erythropoietin between total hip and total knee arthroplasty, nor evaluated the safety or costs. We performed a meta‐analysis to assess the effects of erythropoietin in total hip and knee arthroplasty separately. Safety and costs were evaluated as secondary outcomes. Materials and Methods A systematic literature search was performed to identify randomized controlled trials evaluating the effect of erythropoietin in total hip and knee arthroplasty until April 2014. Study data were extracted using standardized forms and pooled using a random‐effects model. Strength of the evidence was evaluated using Cochrane's Collaboration's tool for risk of bias assessment. Results Seven studies were included (2439 patients). Erythropoietin significantly reduced exposure to allogeneic transfusion in both hip (RR 0·45; 95%CI 0·33–0·61) and knee (RR 0·38; 95%CI 0·27–0·53) arthroplasty, without differences between indications (P = 0·44). Mean number of transfused red blood cell units was significantly decreased in erythropoietin‐treated patients (mean difference −0·57; 95%CI −0·86 to −0·29)(unable to split). No differences in thromboembolic or adverse events were found. Only one study evaluated costs, so that no pooled cost‐effectiveness estimates could be given. Conclusion Erythropoietin is effective in both hip and knee arthroplasty and can be considered as safe. However, the decision to use erythropoietin on a routine base should be balanced against its costs, which may be relatively high.