Subcutaneous Low-Dose Epoetin Beta for the Avoidance of Transfusion in Patients Scheduled for Elective Surgery Not Eligible for Autologous Blood Donation

This randomized, multicentre, parallel-group study assessed the efficacy of epoetin beta in reducing the transfusion frequency in patients ineligible for autologous blood donation prior to surgery. The patients (n = 194) received either epoetin beta (125 or 250 IU/kg, once weekly) or no therapy for 3–4 weeks before surgery. The pre-operation haemoglobin levels were markedly increased in the epoetin beta groups (125 IU/kg: +1.1 g/dl; 250 IU/kg: +1.6 g/dl), but not in the control group. The transfusion frequency was significantly reduced in both epoetin groups as compared with the control group (p = 0.046). Epoetin beta was well tolerated, and no serious adverse events were observed. Low-dose administration of epoetin beta before elective surgery reduces the transfusion frequencies in patients not eligible for autologous blood donation.