Recombinant human erythropoietin in the treatment of infants with anaemia of prematurity.

Recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) was administered subcutaneously three times a week to 18 infants with the anaemia of prematurity at doses of 75, 150, 300, or 600 units/kg per week for 4 weeks, starting at 3-4 weeks of postnatal age. A significant and dose-dependent increase in reticulocyte count was observed from a mean baseline value of 71 x 10(9)/l to 200 x 10(9)/l after 3 weeks of therapy, compared with a change from 69 to 97 x 10(9)/l in 66 historical controls. The haematocrit value remained unchanged during rHuEPO treatment, whereas it steadily declined until 9 weeks of postnatal age in the controls. These effects were accompanied by a marked reduction in serum iron concentration and transferrin saturation in patients receiving standard-dose iron supplements, but not in those given larger doses. Only 3 of 18 patients required a red blood cell transfusion. These infants were among the most anaemic at entry into the study and 2 of them were unable to complete rHuEPO therapy, while the third developed iron deficiency anaemia. These data indicate that rHuEPO with appropriate iron supplementation may accelerate the recovery from anaemia of prematurity. Larger scale placebo-controlled studies are now needed to confirm these findings and verify their impact on transfusion requirements of premature infants.

Comparison of totally implanted and external catheters in paediatric oncology patients.

From June 1982 until December 1989, 93 permanent central venous catheters [59 external catheters (ECs) and 34 implanted catheters (ICs)] were placed in 69 patients. The median age of these patients at placement was 5.6 years for ECs and 8.8 years for ICs (P less than 0.05). Follow-up evaluation was possible on 86 catheters (58 ECs and 28 ICs). The median time of insertion was 236 days and 316 days for ECs and ICs, respectively (P less than 0.05). The median number of open days was 58 for ECs and 66 for ICs (not significant). 17 catheters (6 ECs and 11 ICs) were transiently obstructed (P less than 0.005). 30 episodes of bacteraemia were documented in 20 patients. The incidence of catheter sepsis and bacteraemia of unknown source was one in 278 and 283 open days for ECs and ICs, respectively (not significant). In this retrospective study, ECs appeared to be as safe as ICs when infection was correlated with use of the catheter, but this finding should be confirmed in a randomised design.

Effects of recombinant human erythropoietin in infants with the anemia of prematurity: a pilot study.

In an attempt to stimulate endogenous erythrocyte production and thereby provide an alternative to erythrocyte transfusions, we administered recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEpo) in doses of 75 to 300 units/kg/wk to seven infants with the anemia of prematurity. Treatment was started between 21 and 33 days of life, maintained for 4 weeks, and was well tolerated. All the patients had low baseline serum erythropoietin levels. After rHuEpo therapy, the number of reticulocytes increased from a mean baseline count of 75 x 10(9)/L to 95, 141, and 165 x 10(9)/L on days 7, 10, and 14 of therapy, respectively. Correction or stabilization of the anemia was observed in six of seven patients, whose estimated total erythrocyte volume increased by 49% during therapy (vs a predicted increment of 18% in the absence of rHuEpo). In one patient, however, the hematocrit declined during the treatment, and in three of the responders a secondary fall in hematocrit was noted either during therapy or after its discontinuation. Serum iron and ferritin levels rapidly decreased after the initiation of rHuEpo therapy, and in most patients transient early thrombocytosis and late neutropenia were observed. These data suggest that rHuEpo may correct or stabilize the anemia of prematurity. Its effects, however, may be limited by a variety of factors, among which iron availability probably plays an important role. Controlled studies will be needed to confirm these preliminary observations.

Haemostatic changes during open heart surgery with extracorporeal circulation and deep hypothermia in children.

The haemostatic status of twenty children with cyanotic and acyanotic cardiopathies was studied before, during and after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) under deep hypothermia and haemodilution. Eleven patients had various haemostatic troubles before surgery. Haemodilution with a crystalloid solution to an haematocrit of 21,8 vol. +/- 1,3% resulted in a severe lowering of all coagulation factors. Forced diuresis after CPB induced partial normalization. The observed alterations included moderate thrombocytopenia, prolongation of the prothrombin time, transient decrease of factors V and plasminogen, elevation of fibrin degradation products (FDP), significant lowering of factor VII-X, marked elevation of factor VIII and mild increase of fibrinogen. No correlation was found between coagulation abnormalities and postoperative bleeding, duration of CPB or type of cardiopathies. It is concluded that CPB with haemodilution proves as safe as more conventional approaches in respect to coagulant activities.

[4 cases of hemolytic autoimmune anemia and idiopathic thrombopenic purpura with anti-native DNA antibodies]. / Quatre cas d'anémie hémolytique autoimmune et de purpura thrombopémique idiopathique avec anticorps contre le DNA natif

Four cases (1 female and 3 male) of autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AHA) and idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura of 13-34 years' duration are reported. All have antibodies against native DNA, low complement levels and positive Coombs test. In 2, circulating immune complexes were found. Renal biopsies in 3 revealed small deposits of immunoglobulin and complement in the mesangium of glomerula. No inflammatory changes were seen in light microscopy. These patients thus resemble the animal model of NZB mice, which exhibit similar AHA with antibodies to DNA but with minimal renal changes.

[Post-transfusion HL-A alloimmunization in acute leukemia]. / Alloimmunisation anti-HL-Al post-transfusionnelle dans les leucémies aiguës

Patients with acute leukemia (AML and ALL) who received multiple transfusions of whole blood, platelets or granulocytes, may develop anti-HL-A immunization in spite of chemotherapy. The frequency of HL-A alloimmunization was studied in 21 patients with AML and in 11 children with ALL. Multispecific HL-A antibodies were detected in 10 patients with AML and in 8 with ALL. The presence of these antibodies was associated with febrile transfusion reactions and with immediate destruction of platelets or granulocytes. Selection of HL-A compatible donors eliminated those reactions and the platelet counts could be maintained at levels sufficient to avoid the risk of hemorrhage. It seems therefore warranted to transfuse exclusively HL-A compatible platelets or leukocytes, as soon as anti-HL-A immunization has been detected.