Late erythropoiesis-stimulating agents to prevent red blood cell transfusion in preterm or low birth weight infants.

CONCLUSIONS: Late administration of EPO reduces the use of one or more RBC transfusions, the number of RBC transfusions per infant (< 1 transfusion per infant) but not the total volume (mL/kg) of RBCs transfused per infant. Any donor exposure is likely not avoided as most studies included infants who had received RBC transfusions prior to trial entry. Late EPO does not significantly reduce or increase any clinically important adverse outcomes except for a trend in increased risk for ROP. Further research of the use of late EPO treatment, to prevent donor exposure, is not indicated. Research efforts should focus on limiting donor exposure during the first few days of life in sick neonates, when RBC requirements are most likely to be required and cannot be prevented by late EPO treatment. The use of satellite packs (dividing one unit of donor blood into many smaller aliquots) may reduce donor exposure.
PMID: 30776084 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Source: Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews - February 15, 2019 Category: General Medicine Authors: Aher SM, Ohlsson A Tags: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Source Type: research