THE USE OF RECOMBINANT-HUMAN-ERYTHROPOIETIN IN LUNG TRANSPLANTATION

Recombinant human erythropoietin (r-HuEPO) was administered in 4 lung transplant recipients to treat chronic anemia beyond the immediate pos toperative period. There were 2 males and 2 females with a mean age of 38 years (range 22-49). None of the patients had major infection or r ejection problems, and no blood products were used. Because of differe nt individual responses duration of therapy was 1 to 17 weeks (median 5) with a total dosage ranging from 8 to 36 x 10(3) IU (mean 21 X 10(3 )). The median single dose was 58 IU/kg (range 36-100). Hemoglobin lev els increased significantly from 9.1 +/- 0.2 to 12.7 +/- 0.3 g/dl (mea n +/- SE; p < 0.01). There were no side effects. r-HuEPO is recommende d in treatment of chronic anemia in lung transplant patients to save b lood products and to exclude the potential risk of transfusion-transmi tted viral infections.