Anemia in the News
Mixed Results Treating the Critically Ill with Erythropoietin
A recent clinical trial and review in the New England Journal of Medicine concluded treating anemia with erythropoietin did not significantly reduce blood transfusion rates or incidence of death among critically ill patients. The authors stated that these results failed to provide sufficient evidence to warrant routine use of the hormone to treat patients in intensive care.
Physicians currently prescribe the anemia drug in the intensive care unit, although it is not common practice. Erythropoietin is approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use during chemotherapy, pre-surgery, and for patients with kidney failure or HIV.
NAAC Expert Commentary:
The group treated with erythropoietin (EPO) demonstrated higher ending hemoglobin levels as well as an increased survival rate over the placebo group. This was most pronounced in the younger trauma population but present in all. A reduction in the need for transfusions was not achieved, but major factors such as stricter transfusion criteria and late randomization could have skewed the results. Both the conclusions of the study and the editorial review discourage the use of EPO in this population despite results in conflict with these recommendations. Critically ill patients with anemia responded to EPO treatments and showed improved survival rates in this study.
See next month’s Anemia Alert for a more detailed review of this clinical trial.
Last Updated: October 8, 2007
Last Updated: October 17, 2008
