• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Transfusion News
  • About Us
  • Topics
    • Adverse Events (non-infectious)
    • Blood Donation
    • Cell Therapy
    • Coagulation & Plasma Transfusion
    • Platelet Transfusion
    • Policy and Guidelines
    • Quality Control and Regulatory
    • RBC Transfusion
    • Serology/Genotyping
    • Special Transfusion Situations
    • Transfusion Transmitted Infections
  • Continuing Education
  • Archives
  • Podcasts
  • Question of the Day
  • Search
  • Subscribe to Email Alerts
  • Follow us on
  • Search
  • Subscribe to Email Alerts

Recombinant Erythropoietin Treatments in Preterm Infants

June 1, 2016

Baby's nervous system, artwork

 

Several retrospective studies and small clinical trials have found a neuroprotective role for recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) treatments for very preterm infants. However, a phase 3 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-center trial, recently published in JAMA, found no significant difference in cognitive development at 2 years of age between 228 preterm infants who prophylactically received early, high-dose rhEPO treatments compared to 220 preterm infants who received a saline placebo (P=0.56). Furthermore, no differences in morbidity, mean body weight, length or head circumference were found between the two groups. Data from this trial suggest that rhEPO does not have a neuroprotective effect. This finding may differ from previous studies in which rhEPO administration was started later with lower doses over a longer duration. Protective effects of rhEPO may also be more pronounced in school-aged children than 2 year olds. The results of two large ongoing trials assessing rhEPO treatment may help to clarify its neuroprotective effects.

Reference:

Natalucci G, Latal B, Koller B, Ruegger C, Sick B, Held L, Bucher HU, Fauchere JC, Swiss EPONTG. Effect of Early Prophylactic High-Dose Recombinant Human Erythropoietin in Very Preterm Infants on Neurodevelopmental Outcome at 2 Years: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA 2016;315: 2079-85.

Filed Under

  • News
  • Special Transfusion Situations

Recommended

  • Randomized Clinical Trial of FFP Transfusion for Coagulopathic Critically Ill Patients

  • Donor Deferral of MSM May Inappropriately Conflate Group Membership with Individual Risk

  • The Role of Osteopontin in Murine TRALI

Show Comments

Comments on this article are closed.

Get the latest news. Subscribe to our mailing list. Sign Up

Primary Sidebar

Latest News

  • Directed Blood Donations Should be Limited

  • Babesia Infection Reduces Red Cell Deformability

  • New Erythropoietin Gene Variants Linked to Hereditary Erythrocytosis

  • Multifaceted Threats to the Blood Supply from Climate Change

    Question of the Day

    Copyright © 2025 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    Privacy Policy

    Association for the Advancement of Blood and Biotherapies Wiley