Anemia of Prematurity "“ Erythropoietin Prophylaxis and Factors that Influence It

Abstract:

Purpose: To examine the prophylactic usage of recombinant human erythropoietin beta (EPO) for the anemia of prematurity and the influence of early blood transfusions (BTs), infections and multiple births on it.

Patients and methods: 135 newborns, born before 29^th gestational week (GW), were divided into: control group 0 without and case group 1 with EPO-prophylaxis. The group 1 was separated into: according to the presence of early BTs (before postnatal 28^th day) "“ with and without them; according to the presence of infection "“ with intraamniotic, with nosocomial and without infections; singletons and twins. The effect of EPO-prophylaxis was evaluated by the frequency of late BTs (after 28^th day).

Results: The frequency of late BTs (per one patient) was as follows: in group 0 "“ 1,5±1,3, and in group 1 "“ 1,0±1,1 (p 0,02); in the subgroups with early BTs "“ 1,1±1,1, and in without them "“ 0,5±0,7 (Ñ€ 0,015); in the subgroups with intraamniotic infections 0,9±0,9, with nosocomial infections "“ 1,6±1,3, and without infections "“ 0,6±0,7 (Ñ€ 0,0000); in the subgroup of singletons "“ 1,0±1,1, and of twins "“ 1,0±1,0 (Ñ€ > 0,05).

Conclusions: EPO-prophylaxis was effective in the infants, born before 29^th GW, but early BTs and nosocomial infections compromised it, and multiple births did not influence it.