Published in:
01-02-2015 | Original Article
Early erythropoietin in post-diarrheal hemolytic uremic syndrome: a case–control study
Published in: Pediatric Nephrology | Issue 2/2015
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Background
Although erythropoietin (EPO) deficiency has been reported in children with post-diarrheal hemolytic uremic syndrome (D + HUS), very limited clinical data on EPO use in this disease are currently available. In this case–control study we examined whether EPO administration would reduce the number of red blood cell (RBC) transfusions in D + HUS patients under our care.
Methods
Data from children treated exclusively with RBC transfusions (controls; n = 21) were retrospectively compared with data on those who also received EPO for the treatment of anemia (cases; n = 21).
Results
Both patient groups were similar in age (p = 0.9), gender (p = 0.12), weight (p = 1.00) and height (p = 0.66). Acute phase severity was also comparable, as inferred by the need for dialysis (p = 0.74), the duration of dialysis (p = 0.3), length of hospitalization (p = 0.81), presence of severe bowel (p = 1.00) or neurological injury (p = 0.69), arterial hypertension (p = 1.00) and death (p = 1.00). No differences in the hemoglobin level at admission (p = 0.51) and discharge (p = 0.28) were noted. Three children treated with EPO and two controls did not require any RBC transfusion (p = 1.00). Median number of RBC transfusions needed by cases and controls was 2 (p = 0.52).
Conclusion
Treatment with EPO did not reduce the number of RBC transfusions in D + HUS children. Assessment of EPO efficacy in D + HUS merits further studies.