Strategy for the Use of Erythropoetin Alpha to Maintain Hemoglobin Level in Breast Cancer Patient Treated With Anthracycline-Base of Adjuvant Chemotherapy

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the value of erythropoietin alpha (epoetin) administration, as an alternative treatment of anemia in the operable breast cancer patients. Methods: This is a multicenter phase III randomized clinical trial to evaluate the value of epoetin administration among anemic breast cancer patients who are undergoing anthracyclin-based adjuvant chemotherapy. Sixty four patients were incuded in this trial with initial hemoglobin (Hb) level of 10-12 g/dL. The patients were randomly distributed into two groups: one group received aministration of 40,000 IU epoetin/week for six times a week after operation and the other did not. In the third week after the operation, both groups were started on a 6 cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy with three weeks intervals. Hb levels were evaluated during every chemotherapy cycle. Results: The Hb levels in the epoetin group were always above 10 g/dL up until the end of the sixth chemotherapy cycle or until the twenty first week post operation without blood transfusion. Conclusions: The administration of epoetin 3 weeks prior and 3 weeks after the first cycles of chemotherapy, maintains a sufficient/normal Hb level in breast cancer patients receiving anthracycline-based chemotherapy.

Study of Morbidity and Mortality Pattern of Children Admitted in Paediatric Intensive Care Unit of Tertiary Care Children’s Hospital

“…Most of these patients left the hospital either due to financial constraints or parents' perception that the child won't survive from current illness which is in accordance with various other published studies. 7,15 Mortality rate in our study was 18.5%. This rate may be considered acceptable, as mortality rates between 12.6% -19% have been reported from PICUs in other parts of the world.…”