Subcutaneous recombinant human erythropoietin in children with renal anemia on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis

Abstract

Subcutaneous recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEpo) treatment of renal anemia was performed in four boys and eight girls on CAPD, aged 0.8-12.5 (mean 7.4) years. In contrast to previous studies, our therapeutic goal was not set with a hematocrit of 30% but with full correction of anemia. Following a maximum weekly rHuEpo dosage of median 120 (range 100-240) IU/kg body weight, hematocrit increased in 10 children from 24 (14-29)% within 12 (4-17) weeks to 40.1 (33.5-48.4)%. The weekly increase in hematocrit was 1.27 (0.5-3.1)%. The corrected reticulocyte count increased from 1.3 (0.7-1.8)% to 2.3 (1.4-3.9)% within 4 (2-6) weeks. Eight children fulfilled the protocol; six with an uncomplicated course were able to maintain a hematocrit of 37.1 (35.1-42.7)% with only one sc medication per week of approximately two-thirds of their highest weekly rHuEpo dosage. No serious adverse effect of rHuEpo therapy was observed.

Safety and efficacy of erythropoietin in children with chronic renal failure

“…In children correction of anemia leads to increased appetite [3], excercise tolerance [4], improved school performance or IQ [5,6], and diminishes blood transfusion requirements [7]. Extensive data have now shown recombinant human EPO (rHuEPO) to be safe and efficacious in the treatment of the anemia of CRF in adults [8][9][10][11].…”

Intravenous iron dextran and erythropoietin use in pediatric hemodialysis patients

“…Recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) is an effective therapy for the anemia of end-stage renal disease [1,2,3,4,5,6]. However, response to rHuEPO requires adequate iron stores and hemodialysis patients are especially prone to iron deficiency due to blood loss in the dialyzer, laboratory testing, and increased gastrointestinal losses [7].…”