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[Early use of recombinant human erythropoietin promotes neurobehavioral development in preterm infants]
Jin-Shui He1, Zhong-Ling Huang, Hong Yang
1Department of Neonatology, Zhangzhou Municipal Hospital Affiliated to Fujian Medical University, Zhangzhou, Fujian 363000, China. xiaolonghe99@hotmail.com
Insights
Early administration of recombinant human erythropoietin (rhu-EPO) to preterm infants significantly improved neurobehavioral and motor development. This treatment enhanced cognitive and motor skills at 6 and 12 months, indicating long-term benefits.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Neurology
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Pharmacology
Context:
- Preterm infants face developmental challenges.
- Neurobehavioral assessment is crucial for early intervention.
- Recombinant human erythropoietin (rhu-EPO) has potential therapeutic roles.
Purpose:
- To assess the impact of early rhu-EPO on neurobehavioral development in preterm infants.
- To compare developmental outcomes between rhu-EPO treated and untreated preterm infants.
Summary:
- Forty-four preterm infants were randomized into rhu-EPO treatment and control groups.
- The rhu-EPO group received intravenous rhu-EPO for 4 weeks starting on postnatal day 7.
- Neurobehavioral assessments were conducted at 40 weeks corrected gestational age, and 6 and 12 months post-birth.
Impact:
- Early rhu-EPO treatment significantly improved Neonatal Behavioral Neurological Assessment scores at 40 weeks corrected gestational age.
- The rhu-EPO group showed enhanced fine motor skills at 6 months and gross motor, fine motor, and language skills at 12 months.
- This suggests rhu-EPO can promote neurobehavioral development in preterm infants.
Objective:
To evaluate the effect of the early use of recombinant human erythropoietin (rhu-EPO) on neurobehavioral development in preterm infants.
Methods:
Forty-four preterm infants (30 males and 14 females) were randomly divided into two groups: Rhu-EPO treatment and untreated control (n=22 each). From postnatal day 7, the Rhu-EPO treatment group received intravenous rhu-EPO (250 IU/kg3 times weekly) for 4 weeks. A Neonatal Behavioral Neurological Assessment (NBNA) was performed at 40 weeks of corrected gestational age. A Gesell Development Schedule was used to evaluate neurological development 6 and 12 months after birth.
Results:
The NBNA score in the rhu-EPO treatment group (36.20+/-0.75) was significantly higher than that in the control group (34.40+/-1.05) at 40 weeks of corrected gestational age (P<0.05). The developmental quotient of fine motor in the rhu-EPO treatment group was significantly higher than that in the control group 6 months after birth (P<0.05). By 12 months after birth, the developmental quotient of gross motor, fine motor and language in the rhu-EPO treatment group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P<0.05).
Conclusions:
Early use of Rhu-EPO can promote neurobehavioral development in preterm infants.
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