Randomised controlled double blind study of role of recombinant erythropoietin in the prevention of chronic lung disease. Issue 3 (1st May 1997)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Griffiths, Gill; Lall, Ranjit; Chatfield, Sue; Short, Andrew; Mackay, Peter; Williamson, Paula; Brown, Julia; Levene, Malcolm I
• Is Part Of: Archives of disease in childhood. Volume 76:Issue 3(1997)
• Page Start: F190
• Page End: F192
• Publication Date: 1997-05-01
• Subjects: human erythropoietin -- respiratory support -- blood transfusions -- chronic lung disease; Infants -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Newborn infants -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Fetus -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 618.920105
• DOI: 10.1136/fn.76.3.F190
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1359-2998

Abstract

Abstract : AIM: To evaluate the role of recombinant human erythropoietin (R-HuEpo) in reducing iron infusion, which may exacerbate free radical damage, leading to chronic lung disease. METHODS: A multicentre, randomised, placebo controlled, double blind study was carried out in four neonatal intensive care units in Yorkshire. Infants were randomly allocated and received either R-HuEpo (480 U/kg/wk) or placebo by twice weekly subcutaneous injection. The primary outcome measure was the number of days on respiratory support and a secondary outcome the number of blood transfusions required. RESULTS: Forty two very low birthweight (VLBW) infants were randomly allocated. There was little difference in the need for respiratory support one month after randomisation, but subsequently there was a trend towards a reduction in the proportion requiring respiratory support in the R-HuEpo group (difference at three months −0.50, 95% confidence interval −1.00, 0.17). During stay in hospital, the median number of blood transfusions was lower for infants in the R-HuEpo group (difference in medians −2, 95% CI −4, 0). The study was stopped early because of failure to recruit babies at the expected rate. CONCLUSIONS: R-HuEpo seems to reduce the number of days in oxygen for ill VLBW infants. These data could be used to construct a larger multicentre study to evaluate this effect further.