Urinary Erythropoietin Concentrations after Early Short-Term Infusion of High-Dose Recombinant Epo for Neuroprotection in Preterm Neonates

Dame C et al. – These data suggest that the higher renal Epo excretion in more immature infants may be attributed to a higher glomerular filtration leakage due to the lower maturation of the kidneys and argue against saturation kinetics after multiple doses of 3,000 U/kg rEpo. This information should be considered in future trials on the use of rEpo for neuroprotection in neonates.

Methods

• Epo concentrations were measured using the ELISA technique in the first two consecutive urine specimens after each rEpo infusion.

Results

• Renal Epo excretion was significantly higher in preterm infants with gestational ages <29 weeks than in more mature infants and reached up to 23% of the administered rEpo within 8 h after each infusion.
• The urinary Epo concentration did not increase after three repetitive infusions of high-dose rEpo.
• The ratio of urinary Epo to total protein concentrations was the same in infants with gestational ages <29 weeks and in those with gestational ages >29 weeks.

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