[Efficacy of early erythropoietin use in critically ill, very-low-birthweight premature newborn infants: controlled clinical trial]

Abstract

Objective: To determine the efficacy of erythropoietin in very low birth weight (VLBW) newborns less than 72 h of age.

Patients and methods: We randomly assigned 40 critically ill newborn VLBW infants to receive either recombinant human erythropoietin (EPO) 150 units/kg per day (21 patients) or placebo (19 patients) during their first six weeks of life. The observers were unaware of the treatment assignments. Frequency of erythrocyte transfusion, adverse effects and haematologic measures were evaluated and compared.

Results: Before treatment gestational age, weight, haemoglobin, and pathology were similar in both groups. During the subsequent 6 weeks, haemoglobin and haematocrit of the placebo group fell significantly below those of the EPO recipients. More transfusions were received by the placebo recipients (7/21) than by the EPO recipients (2/21; p = 0.04). No adverse effects of EPO were observed.

Conclusions: We recommend the administration of recombinant human erythropoietin since the first 72 h of age, because of the high frequency of anaemia, the efficacy of EPO and lack of side effects.