[Erythropoietin treatment in critically ill children]

To analyze whether erythropoietin treatment increases hemoglobin and decreases transfusion requirements in critically ill children.

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.

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.

Erythropoietin can be an effective treatment for anemia in some critically ill children, decreasing the number of transfusions and increasing hemoglobin.