High-versus low-dose erythropoietin in extremely low birth weight infants. The European Multicenter rhEPO Study Group

To investigate whether a weekly 1500 IU/kg dose of recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) is more effective than a dose of 750 IU/kg/week in preventing anemia and reducing the transfusion need in infants with birth weights less than 1000 gm. In a randomized, double-blind, multicenter trial, 184 in...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of pediatrics 1998-05, Vol.132 (5), p.866-870
Main Authors: Maier, R F, Obladen, M, Kattner, E, Natzschka, J, Messer, J, Regazzoni, B M, Speer, C P, Fellman, V, Grauel, E L, Groneck, P, Wagner, M, Moriette, G, Salle, B L, Verellen, G, Scigalla, P
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anemia - prevention & control
Blood Transfusion - statistics & numerical data
Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
Double-Blind Method
Drug Administration Schedule
Erythropoietin - administration & dosage
Female
Gestational Age
Hematocrit
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Infant, Premature
Infant, Premature, Diseases - prevention & control
Infant, Very Low Birth Weight - blood
Iron - therapeutic use
Male
Recombinant Proteins
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Summary:To investigate whether a weekly 1500 IU/kg dose of recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) is more effective than a dose of 750 IU/kg/week in preventing anemia and reducing the transfusion need in infants with birth weights less than 1000 gm. In a randomized, double-blind, multicenter trial, 184 infants with birth weights between 500 and 999 gm were treated with either rhEPO 750 (low-dose group) or 1500 IU/kg/week (high-dose group) from day 3 of life until 37 weeks' corrected age. Thirty-two percent of the infants in each group did not receive any transfusion during the treatment period. The total volume of erythrocytes received was similar in each group. The success rate, defined as no transfusion needed and hematocrit value 0.30 L/L or greater, was 27.6% in the low-dose and 29.5% in the high-dose group (p = 0.96). Doubling the rhEPO dose of 750 IU/kg/week is not indicated in infants with birth weights less than 1000 gm.
ISSN:0022-3476