Recombinant human erythropoietin in pediatric oncology: a review.
Important to attempt review, but too much variability in studies to form meaningful conclusion. – Patricia Ford
Transfusion in premature infants impairs production and/or release of red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.
The author concludes that suppression of erythro-, leuko- and thrombopoiesis within 48 hours after transfusion decreases the amount of precursor cells in the peripheral blood. This is a very important observation. However, the question arises as to whether it is not only an inhibition of bone marrow cell release to the peripheral blood. – V. […]
Nontransferrin-bound iron in the plasma of haemodialysis patients after intravenous iron saccharate infusion.
This is a very important study as it has long been debated whether relevant amounts of free iron circulate after the administration of parenteral iron. The study confirms that this is the case. However, it is not known whether this is of clinical relevance (depending also on the total amount and time of usage of […]
Efficacy of a low-dose intravenous iron sucrose regimen in peritoneal dialysis patients.
The authors evaluated a low dose iron substitution scheme for the effectiveness in patients with peritoneal dialysis: 50 mg iron sucrose every other week is effective in patients with ferritin levels < 100 g/L (regarded as iron deficiency); 50 mg iron sucrose once a month did not affect EPO dosing in patients with ferritin levels […]
Reduction in erythropoietin doses by the use of chronic intravenous iron supplementation in iron-replete hemodialysis patients.
The authors from Taiwan state that they used “Ferrum Hausmann, a ferric polymaltose complex.” Under the same name (Ferrum Hausmann), iron saccharate (identical to iron sucrose) has been licensed in several European countries. The confusion concerning various iron sugar compounds gets even greater when one considers that “ferric polymaltose complex” was reported as being used […]
A randomized trial of iron deficiency testing strategies in hemodialysis patients.
It is well known that Ferritin and Transf.sat are parameters that are influenced by various factors such as inflammation, iron overload, varying serum iron levels, etc. Therefore, better parameters are needed and hypochromic red cells are one of the most promising concerning correct titration of parenteral iron. Reticulocyte Hb content (CHr) decreases singnificantly if functional […]
The effect of i.v. iron alone or in combination with low- dose erythropoietin in the rapid correction of anemia of chronic renal failure in the predialysis period.
This is a most valuable study concerning the use of rHuEPO and iron sucrose in predialysis patients. While it is quite predictable that rHuEPO and iron patients show a faster increase in Hct, the question of why some patients need further rHuEPO in the maintenance phase and others do not is of great interest. What […]
Considerations for optimal iron use for anemia due to chronic kidney disease.
It is certainly of great value to have an overview about different iron regimens in combination with rHuEPO. However, at least in Europe, there is common agreement that parenteral iron and, if used as such, iron sucrose is the gold standard in combination with rHuEPO as regards safety and effectiveness. Monitoring of efficiency is based […]
Fetal parvovirus B19 infection.
The article gives a good overview about incidence, pathogenesis, clinical symptoms, clinical course, diagnostics, therapy and prognosis of fetal parvovirus B19 infection by analysis of literature. The prognosis is mainly determined by the anemia. Data suggest a benefit of transfusion therapy. – V. Kretschmer.