Premium
Efficacy of a single, weekly dose of recombinant erythropoietin in myelodysplastic syndromes
Author(s) -
Musto Pellegrino,
Falcone Antonietta,
Sanpaolo Grazia,
Bodenizza Carlo,
La Sala Antonio,
Perla Gianni,
Carella Angelo Michele
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
british journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.907
H-Index - 186
eISSN - 1365-2141
pISSN - 0007-1048
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2141.2003.04435.x
Subject(s) - erythropoietin , medicine , myelodysplastic syndromes , recombinant dna , anemia , gastroenterology , oncology , bone marrow , biology , biochemistry , gene
Summary. Thirteen patients with low‐to‐intermediate risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) received recombinant erythropoietin (r‐EPO) at the single, weekly dose of 40·000 U for at least 8 weeks. Five patients (38·4%) achieved a major erythroid response (increased haemoglobin levels > 2 g/dl and/or transfusion independence), which is currently maintained after 3–11 months, without modification of r‐EPO dose. This study suggests that 40·000 U r‐EPO given once a week may be at least as effective as the more frequent (daily or three times a week) administrations of the drug usually employed in MDS patients.