1.
Recombinant human erythropoietin in mildly anemic women before total hysterectomy
Dousias V, Paraskevaidis E, Dalkalitsis N, Tsanadis G, Navrozoglou I, Lolis D
Clinical and Experimental Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2003;30((4):):235-8.
Abstract
UNLABELLED The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of preoperative recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) treatment in a group of mildly anemic women. METHODS This randomized controlled study included 50 healthy, mildly anemic women who underwent total hysterectomy for leiomyomas. The study group (Group A) included 23 women who received rHuEPO 600 U/kg once weekly for three weeks, plus iron supplementation. The control group (Group B) included 27 women who received only iron supplementation. Blood samples were obtained on days -14, -7, 0, +3, +7 and +14. RESULTS An increase in preoperative mean hemoglobin concentration was noted in both groups; however, the increase was significantly higher in Group A throughout the study period. Mean reticulocyte count was also significantly higher in this group, whereas mean ferritin level was significantly lower. No postoperative transfusion was needed in Group A, whereas five women were transfused in Group B. CONCLUSION Rapid and persistent improvement of hematologic parameters makes the use of rHuEPO for preoperative treatment of mildly anemic women with benign uterine pathology a very interesting approach.
2.
Recombinant human erythropoietin treatment of postpartum anemia. Preliminary results
Makrydimas G, Lolis D, Lialios G, Tsiara S, Georgiou I, Bourantas KL
European Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology, & Reproductive Biology. 1998;81((1):):27-31.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEpo) in postpartum anemia. STUDY DESIGN At the University Hospital of Ioannina, rHuEpo was administrated subcutaneously to twenty anemic women (hemoglobin [Hb]<10 g/dl), for 15 days following delivery; all were given iron and folic acid per os. Twenty other women (the control group) with postpartum anemia (Hb<10 g/dl), received only iron and folic acid. The Mann-Whitney U-test was used for the comparison of hematological indices between the two groups, on days 1, 3, 5, 10, 15 and 40 postdelivery. RESULTS On day 3, reticulocyte counts were significantly higher in the women who received rHuEpo, as compared to the controls (P<0.05). The mean Hb value increased to >2 g/dl in the group undergoing rHuEpo therapy as compared to 0.7 g/dl in the control group on day 5 (P<0.05). Furthermore, two women in the control group required blood transfusions, while no transfusions were required by the rHuEpo group. CONCLUSIONS rHuEpo administration is useful for a more rapid amelioration of hematological indices in women with postpartum anemia. Further, the dose given in this study was not associated with significant side-effects.