The Effect of Epoetin Beta (Recombinant Human Erythropoietin) on the Need for Transfusion in Very-Low-Birth-Weight Infants

Abstract

Infants with very low birth weights have less need of transfusions if given epoetin beta during the first six weeks of life (250 IU per kilogram three times a week). We recommend early epoetin treatment for all such infants, but further studies of nutrition and iron supplementation during treatment are needed.