Managing the anemia of prematurity: red blood cell transfusions versus recombinant erythropoietin.

Transfusion-dependent anemia remains a problem for preterm infants, particularly those with a birth weight less than 1.0 kg. Several studies have documented the efficacy and safety of transfusing red blood cells stored up to 42 days as a means to diminish donor exposures. Recombinant erythropoietin therapy has not been widely adopted because it does not consistently reduce the need for red blood cell transfusions in very low-birth weight preterm infants. Copyright 2001 by W.B. Saunders Company