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Review
. 2021 May 20:9:657228.
doi: 10.3389/fped.2021.657228. eCollection 2021.

Prophylactic Erythropoietin for Neuroprotection in Very Preterm Infants: A Meta-Analysis Update

Hendrik S Fischer  1 , Nora J Reibel  1 , Christoph Bührer  1 , Christof Dame  1
Affiliations
Review

Prophylactic Erythropoietin for Neuroprotection in Very Preterm Infants: A Meta-Analysis Update

Hendrik S Fischer et al. Front Pediatr. .

Abstract

A meta-analysis update of randomized controlled trials investigating recombinant human erythropoietin suggests improved neurodevelopmental outcome in preterm infants. There was substantial heterogeneity, which could be ascribed to a single trial. Exclusion of this trial featuring a high risk of bias abolished heterogeneity and any effects of recombinant human erythropoietin treatment.

Keywords: VLBW and ELBW infants; erythropoietin; meta-analysis; neurodevelopment; neuroprotection.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Effects of rhEPO on neurodevelopment at 18–26 months' corrected age. Forest plots show the effects on the number of infants with an MDI <70 (BSID-II) or a composite cognitive score <85 (BSID-III) in all infants (primary outcome, (A) and in infants <28 1/7 weeks' gestational age (planned subgroup analysis, (B), on cerebral palsy (C), and on any neurodevelopmental impairment (D). M-H, Mantel–Haenszel.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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