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Recombinant Human Erythropoietin is Safe, Effective Postpartum Treatment for Anaemic Women
A DGReview of :"The effects of recombinant human erythropoietin given immediately after delivery to women with anaemia"
Current Medical Research and Opinion
07/16/2003
By Jill Taylor
Administration of recombinant human erythropoietin (EPO) immediately after childbirth effectively increases haemoglobin concentrations in anaemic women who are otherwise in good health, according to new research.
Previous studies have demonstrated that EPO reduces anaemia associated with many conditions, such as renal insufficiency, cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and pregnancy.
To determine the safety and efficacy of treating post-partum anaemia with EPO, Dr. T. Hatzis, from the Department of Haematology, Mitera Maternity and Surgical Center, in Athens, Greece, and colleagues performed a study with 74 otherwise healthy women with serum haemoglobin levels below 1 g/dL who were admitted to a hospital to give birth.
One half of participants received a single dose of Eprex 20,000 UI intravenously immediately after delivery. The EPO treatment group was evaluated against a control group of women matched for age and haemoglobin concentration.
All study participants remained in the hospital for 4 days after delivery and received daily supplementation with iron protein succinylate 1600 mg for 40 days. The need for blood transfusions was determined based on clinical condition and haemoglobin levels.
Haemoglobin concentrations in all patients were measured at 4 and 40 days postpartum.
Researchers found that all patients in the treatment group maintained safe levels of haemoglobin and exhibited no apparent side effects. The treatment group maintained a significantly higher mean haemoglobin concentration in comparison to the control group at both measurements.
Additionally, the treatment group experienced significantly lower incidence of anaemia related symptoms, including fatigue, weakness, headache, and problems in breast-feeding.
Six patients required blood transfusions, all of which were in the control group.
"The current study confirms that administration [of EPO] after delivery avoids any potential problems and can easily be incorporated as part of the obstetric procedure for women with anaemia," the researchers conclude.
The study was supported by Janssen-Cilag.
Curr Med Res Opin 2003;19:4:346-9.
"The effects of recombinant human erythropoietin given immediately after delivery to women with anaemia"
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