Recombinant human erythropoietin (Epo) is known to accelerate erythropoesis in preterm infants. This study was designed to assess the effect of Epo in treatment of anemia of prematurity .

Preterm infants with Hct <30% when infant’s age was between 2 to 3 weeks or Hct<25% when infant’s age was more than 3 weeks , were divided randomly in two groups, each group included 10 babies. The mean gestational age in control group was 32.1±1.85 weeks and birth weight was 1489±218 (SD) , grams and in case group was 31.5±2.12 weeks and birth weight was 1367±227 grams. Infants in case group received Epo 500 u/kg
   twice weekly for 4 weeks. All infants in control and case group were fed human milk and supplemented with entral iron prophylaxy. Levels of hematocrit andreticolocytes were determined for each infant at the beiging of study, 3 days after treatment and one week after the end of treatment. Weight, length and head circomference were determined weekly.

The groups were significantly different in hematocrit and reticulocyes count at the end of study (P<0.0001 and P=0.024 respectively). In control group the prophylactic iron supplementation was not sufficient to prevent anemia and we found a significant decrease in hematocrit level at the end of study (P<0.0001).

We concluded the early treatment of anemia of prematutiry with rhEpo with iron increase hematocrit and retyculocyte in perterm infants. If we can minimize blood sampling for laboratory analysis in preterm infants, treatment with Epo will reduce the need for blood transfusion in these infants.