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[Effects of recombinant human erythropoietin on neurointelligence development in very low birth weight infants]
Yue-Ju Cai1, Yan-Yan Song, Zhi-Jian Huang
1Department of Neonatology, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center Affiliated to Guangzhou Medical College, Guangzhou 510623, China. yansong841@126.com.
Insights
Early recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) treatment improved neurodevelopmental outcomes in very low birth weight infants (VLBWI). rhEPO enhanced cognitive, motor, and language abilities, while reducing neurological abnormalities.
Area of Science:
- Neonatalogy
- Neurodevelopmental Pediatrics
- Pharmacology
Context:
- Very low birth weight infants (VLBWI) are at high risk for neurodevelopmental impairments.
- Early intervention strategies are crucial for improving long-term outcomes in VLBWI.
- Recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) has shown potential neuroprotective effects.
Purpose:
- To assess the impact of early rhEPO administration on neurointelligence development in VLBWI.
- To evaluate the effects of rhEPO on neurological assessments and developmental milestones.
- To determine if rhEPO reduces the incidence of neurological abnormalities in VLBWI.
Summary:
- Seventy-eight VLBWI were randomized into rhEPO treatment and control groups.
- Neurodevelopmental assessments included NBNA, Gesell Developmental Schedules, and evaluation of auditory brainstem response (ABR) and cranial ultrasound.
- The rhEPO group demonstrated significantly higher NBNA scores, improved developmental milestones across multiple domains at 3, 6, and 12 months, and lower rates of ABR and cranial ultrasound abnormalities.
Impact:
- Early rhEPO use promotes neurological recovery and enhances cognitive, motor, and language development in VLBWI.
- rhEPO exhibits protective effects on the nervous system, leading to improved neurodevelopmental trajectories.
- These findings support the early use of rhEPO as a therapeutic strategy for VLBWI.
Objective:
To evaluate the clinical effects of the early use of recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) on the neurointelligence development in very low birth weight infants (VLBWI).
Methods:
Seventy-eight VLBWI were divided into rhEPO treatment group (n=35) and control group (n=43) according to the choice of their parents. Neonatal behavioral neurological assessment (NBNA) was performed at 40 weeks of corrected gestational age. The Gesell Developmental Schedules were used for neurodevelopmental evaluation at 3, 6, and 12 months of corrected age. The abnormal rates of auditory brainstem response (ABR) and cranial ultrasound were evaluated at 6 months of corrected age.
Results:
The rhEPO treatment group had significantly higher NBNA scores at 40 weeks of corrected gestational age than the control group (P<0.05). The adaptability at 3 months of corrected age, the gross motor, adaptability, and sociability at 6 months, and the gross motor, adaptability, fine motor, sociability, and language at 12 months were significantly better in the rhEPO treatment group than in the control group (P<0.05). The abnormal rates of ABR and cranial ultrasound in the rhEPO treatment group were significantly lower than in the control group at 6 months of corrected age (P<0.05).
Conclusions:
Early use of rhEPO can promote the early recovery of neurological symptoms and improve the cognitive, motor, and language abilities in VLBWI due to its protective effects on the nervous system.
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