Use of recombinant human erythropoietin and risk of severe retinopathy in extremely low-birth-weight infants

Abstract

Study Objectives. To evaluate the frequency and severity of retinopathy of prematurity in extremely low‐birth‐weight (ELBW) infants who received recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO), and to compare the frequency of blood cell transfusions these infants required with a matched control group who did not receive rHuEPO.Design. Retrospective cohort analysis.Setting. Level III neonatal intensive care unit in a large academic medical center.Patients. One hundred thirty‐eight ELBW infants who received rHuEPO and 138 ELBW infants who did not (control group) but who were matched by birth weight, gestational age, sex, and year of birth and who survived to the first ophthalmologic examination.Measurements and Main Results. The rHuEPO was started before the 8th day of life in 115 (83%) of the 138 infants. Stages III‐V retinopathy of prematurity occurred with similar frequency in both groups of infants (rHuEPO group 19% [26 infants] vs control group 20% [27 infants], p>0.05). Infants in the rHuEPO group received fewer transfusions on average during their hospitalization compared with those in the control group (4.2 vs 6.1 transfusions, p<0.01).Conclusion. Use of rHuEPO for prevention or treatment of anemia of prematurity in ELBW infants does not increase the frequency of severe retinopathy of prematurity and reduces the number of transfusions.