ADMINISTRATION OF HIGH-DOSES OF RECOMBINANT-HUMAN-ERYTHROPOIETIN TO PATIENTS WITH BETA-THALASSEMIA-INTERMEDIA - A PRELIMINARY TRIAL

Four patients (1 male, 3 female, age range 16-56 yr) with beta-thalass emia intermedia were given high doses of recombinant human erythropoie tin (rHuEpo), iron sulfate and folic acid in an attempt to improve the ir anemia. The dose schedule was: rHuEpo, 500 U/kg 3 times weekly, iro n sulfate, 300 mg/d and folic acid, 5 mg/d. All patients were red bloo d cell transfusion-dependent. Hematological data and fetal hemoglobin (HbF) were assayed every 2 wk. XmnI polymorphism and beta-thalassemia mutations were identified by PCR. All patients showed a moderate to hi gh increase in hemoglobin values (mean value: 2.5 g/dl) and in 1 patie nt HbF levels also increased; 3 patients became red blood cell transfu sion-independent and 1 patient was able to extend the intervals betwee n transfusions significantly. No side effects were observed during rHu Epo therapy.