Effects of recombinant human erythropoietin in the treatment of anemia of prematurity

: 13 premature babies (gestational age 31.1 +/- 0.9 weeks and birth weight 1586 +/- 261 g) were randomly assigned to receive recombinant human erythropoietin (200 U/kg i.v. three times a week during 4 weeks) or no (13 babies) as soon as haematocrit decrease or = 2 degree grade and received iron and Vit. E by i.m. Result were evaluated through determination of hemoglobin, haematocrit, reticulocytes and volume of packed erythrocytes before and on days 7, 14, 21 and 28 of therapy. After rHuEPO the number of reticulocytes increased on days 21 and 28 of therapy (on day 21: 92.4 +/- 34.2 x 1000/L vs. 71.8 +/- 21.0, p < 0.10; on day 28: 116.2 +/- 42.9 vs. 83.8 +/- 23.2, p < 0.05); otherwise the number of transfusion (0.2 +/- 0.4 vs. 1.0 +/- 1.2, p < 0.10) and volume of packed erythrocytes (3.0 +/- 6.3 ml/kg vs. 14.9 +/- 15.9, p < 0.05) were reduced. Serum erythropoietin levels did not change during treatment, probably because, reducing the lowering of hemoglobin, hypoxic stimulus to increase of erythropoietin was suppressed.