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Survival has improved for extremely preterm infants, which has sharpened the focus on developing strategies that reduce long-term neurodevelopmental disabilities. Preclinical studies in models of neonatal brain injury suggest that erythropoietin has neurotrophic and neuroprotective effects, although it is not FDA approved for these indications. Early randomized trials suggest that administration of erythropoietin improves long-term cognitive outcomes. Now, results are available from a phase III trial.
Between 2013 and 2016, 941 extremely preterm infants (gestational age between 24 weeks, 0 days, and 27 weeks, 6 days) were randomized before 24 hours of age to erythropoietin (1000 U/kg every 48 hours x 6 doses, followed by 400 U/kg 3 times wee…