Tratamiento con eritropoyetina en niños críticamente enfermos
- R. Chacón Aguilar
- M. Escorial Briso-Montiano
- M. Sopetrán Rey García
- C. García Sanz
- M. Rupérez Lucas
- J. López-Herce Cid
ISSN: 1695-4033, 1696-4608
Year of publication: 2004
Volume: 61
Issue: 5
Pages: 398-402
Type: Article
More publications in: Anales de Pediatría: Publicación Oficial de la Asociación Española de Pediatría ( AEP )
Abstract
Objective To analyze whether erythropoietin treatment increases hemoglobin and decreases transfusion requirements in critically ill children Patients and methods We performed an observational, prospective study of 23 critically ill children aged between 1 month and 6 years. Recombinant human eritropoietin (rHuEPO) was administered at a dosage of 150–750 U/kg/week over 3 days. Hemogram, reticulocyte, iron metabolism, serum ferritin and transferrin were measured before treatment started and weekly thereafter Results After erythropoietin treatment, hematocrit, hemoglobin and red blood cells progressively increased, with a maximal response in the sixth week. At the end of treatment, hemoglobin increased 1.68 g/dl, hematocrit by 5% and erythrocytes 600,000/ml/mm3. Transfusion requirements decreased from 59 transfusions at baseline to 12 in the first week of treatment and none from the sixth week. No treatment-related adverse effects were observed Conclusion Erythropoietin can be an effective treatment for anemia in some critically ill children, decreasing the number of transfusions and increasing hemoglobin