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Longitudinal Assessment of Preterm Infants Treated with Erythropoiesis Stimulating Agents

Robin K Ohls1, Jean Lowe2, Ronald A Yeo3

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84108, USA.

Current Pediatric Reviews
|December 20, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) improved long-term cognitive and executive function in preterm infants through age 6, matching outcomes of healthy term-born children.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal Medicine
  • Developmental Neuroscience
  • Pediatric Neurology

Background:

  • Previous studies showed improved neurodevelopment at 2 and 4 years in preterm infants treated with erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs).
  • Longitudinal outcomes of these infants through age 6 were not previously characterized.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the long-term effects of ESAs on cognitive and executive function in preterm infants up to 6 years of age.
  • To compare outcomes between ESA-treated preterm infants, placebo-treated preterm infants, and healthy term-born controls.

Main Methods:

  • Children previously randomized to ESAs or placebo were evaluated at 6 years.
  • Cognitive and executive function tests were administered.
  • Healthy term-born children served as controls.

Main Results:

  • Cognitive and executive function scores remained stable between 4 and 6 years within each group.
  • ESA recipients demonstrated significantly higher Full-Scale IQ and Performance IQ scores compared to placebo recipients.
  • Preterm infants treated with ESAs showed cognitive and executive function outcomes similar to healthy term-born controls, outperforming the placebo group.

Conclusions:

  • ESA treatment in preterm infants is associated with sustained improvements in cognitive and executive function up to age 6.
  • ESAs appear to mitigate long-term neurodevelopmental deficits in preterm infants, bringing outcomes closer to those of term-born peers.
Abstract

Keywords:
BRITENeurodevelopmental impairmentsapoptosisdarbepoetinerythropoietinneuroprotective interventions

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