EPOETIN ALFA FACILITATES PRESURGICAL AUTOLOGOUS BLOOD DONATION IN NONANEMIC PATIENTS SCHEDULED FOR ORTHOPEDIC OR CARDIOVASCULAR-SURGERY

Patients expected to need at least three units of blood for their elec tive cardiovascular or orthopaedic surgery, were allocated randomly to receive intravenous (i.v.) Epoetin alfa 600 IU kg(-1) (n=27), 300 IU kg(-1) (n= 30) or placebo (n=23), on days 1, 4 and 7. Provided haemogl obin greater than or equal to 11g dL(-1), one unit of blood was collec ted on days 1, 4, 7, 11 and 14. Iron supplementation was given through out the study. Surgery was scheduled between days 18 and 21. Significa ntly more patients treated with Epoetin alfa (100% for 600 IU kg(-1); 97% for 300 IU kg(-1)) were able to donate 24 units of blood compared with placebo (78%) (P = 0.011 and P=0.032). No significant differences were seen in total patient exposure to homologous blood (7.4%, 3.3% a nd 17.4%, respectively). Mean red cell volume donated (P=0.005 for 600 IU kg(-1); P=0.158 for 300 IU kg(-1) both vs. placebo) and production (P<0.001 and P=0.012, respectively) were dose related. Twenty-four pa tients became iran deficient. No differences in the incidence of adver se events were seen between the groups.