부산대학교 도서관

Recombinant human erythropoietin (r-HuEPO) treatment appears to increase total bilirubin production in preterm infants. R-HuEPO stimulates red blood cell production. Preterm infants are prone to anemia because they are predisposed to it and because blood is frequently drawn for analysis. Besides potential benefits, r-HuEPO could also cause jaundice by increasing red cell mass and especially if the new cells had shorter lifespans. Jaundice results when bilirubin, a breakdown product of red blood cells, accumulates in the blood. Nine infants born at less than 30 weeks gestation were randomly assigned to receive either R-HuEPO 5 days per week for six weeks or saline. Treatment increased hemoglobin levels, hematocrit, the number of red blood cells, and the number of immature red blood cells. Although significant jaundice did not occur, treated infants averaged slightly increased bilirubin production over the six weeks while bilirubin production declined steeply in untreated infants. Jaundice could be a problem in younger, sicker infants.