Effect of recombinant human erythropoietin on patients with severe craniocerebral injury: a clinical observation

Objective To observe the short-term curative effect and safety of recombinant human erythropoietin (rHu-EPO) in treating patients with severe craniocerebral injury (SCI). Methods One hundred and sixteen patients with SCI, enrolled in our hospital from June 2012 to September 2013, were randomly divided into EPO treatment group (n=60) and control group (n=56). Patients in the EPO treatment group were subcutaneously injected with rHu-EPO at dosage of 6000 IU on the 1st, 3rd, 6th, 9th and 12th d of admission for 5 times; and those in the control group were treated with placebo. Glasgow coma scale (GCS) scores, neuron specific enolization enzyme (NSE) level and S-100β protein level in the serum were evaluated after treatment. Moreover, the blood pressure and hemoglobin levels were also monitored. Results NSE level and S-100β protein level were decreased gradually in both groups after treatment; and these levels in the EPO treatment group were significantly lower than those in the control group 7, 10, 14 d after SCI (P<0.05); 14 d after treatment, GCS scores in the EPO treatment group were significantly higher as compared with those in the control group (11.1±3.6 vs. 9.7±3.5, P<0.05). No such side effects as fever, rash or itching caused by EPO were noted in the EPO treatment. Conclusion Significant decreased NSE and S-100β protein levels and decreased GCS scores are noted in patients with SCI after treatment with rHu-EPO, which might indicate that EPO might be an effective therapy of SCI. Key words: Severe craniocerebral injury; Erythropoietin; Neuron specific enolization enzyme; S-100 beta protein