Comparison between one and three doses a week of recombinant erythropoietin in very low birth weight infants

Objective:to compare transfusion requirements and erythropoietic response in preterms between schedules of repo administration once or three times per week, using the same weekly dose.study design:prospective, randomized trial including infants weighing <1500 g at birth and/or were ⩽32 weeks’ gestation: group 1 (60 infants) received subcutaneous repo at 250 units kg−1 per dose, three times weekly for 6 weeks; group 2 (59 infants), at 750 units kg−1 per dose, once weekly for 6 weeks. efficacy was evaluated based on the transfusion requirement, hemoglobin changes, reticulocyte counts, serum transferrin receptor (stfr) and serum ferritin. the frequency of adverse effects was registered in both groups.result:a total of 13 infants were transfused in each group (relative risk: 0.98; 95% confidence interval: 0.4 to 2.3). phlebotomy loss and red blood cell transfusion volumes received were similar in both groups. hemoglobin levels were lower at end of study in group 2 (10.6±1.5 g dl−1 versus 11.5±1.4 g dl−1; p<0.003). at end of study, reticulocyte counts and stfr values increased and serum ferritin values decreased, without significant differences between the two groups. incidence of complications was similar in both groups.conclusion:the once-weekly repo schedule for very low birth weight infants proved as effective as the three-times-weekly schedule, in relation to erythropoietic stimulus and transfusion requirement.