Early treatment of anemia of prematurity with recombinant human erythropoietin

Abstract EN

Background : Recombinant human erythropoietin (EPO) is known to accelerale erythropoesis in preterm infants.

This study was designed to access of EPO in treatment of anemia of prematurity. Materials and Methods : Preterm infants with hematocrit less than 30 % when they were between 2 to 3 weeks of life, were divided randomly in two groups, each group include ten babies.

The mean gestational age in control group was 31 ± 1.65 weeks and birth weight was 1450 ± 200 grams and in case group was 31 ± 2.12 weeks and birth weight was 1370 ± 211 grams.

Infants in case group received EPO 400 u/kg twice weekly for 4 weeks.

All infants in control and case group were fed human milk and supplemented with entral iron.

Vitamin E and folic acid prophylaxy.

Levels of hematocrit and reticulocvtes were determined for each infant at the beginning of the study, 3 days after treatment and one week after the end of treatment. Results: The groups had significant differences in hematocrit and reticolocyte count at the end of study (P < 0.001) and P = 0.024 respectively).

In control group the prophylactic iron, vitamin E an folic acid supplementation was not sufficient to prevent anemia and we found a significant decrease in hematocrit level at the end of study (P < 0.0001). Conclusion : We concluded the early treatment of anemia of prematurity with recombinant human EPO plus iron, vitamin E and folic acid increase hematocrit and retyculocyte in preterm infants.

If we can minimize blood sampling for laboratory analysis in preterm infants, treatment with EPO will reduce the need for blood transfusion in these infants. -