Erythropoietin in Premature Infants to Prevent Encephalopathy

Erythropoietin in Premature Infants to Prevent Encephalopathy: A Multi-Centre Randomized Blinded Controlled Study of the Efficacy of Erythropoietin in China

The main goal of this trial is to investigate whether early administration of human erythropoietin (EPO) in preterm infants improves neurodevelopmental outcome at 18 months corrected age. This study is designed as randomized, double-masked, placebo controlled multicenter study involving at least 312 patients.

EPO has been safely used for prevent preterm anemia and recent studies have shown the neuro-protective effect. Our hypothesis is that EPO could prevent preterm brain injury and reduce the rate of premature death and disability from encephalopathy. The aims of this study include: to investigate the safety and efficacy of EPO by using 1000u/kg higher than the dose of anemia treatment (250u/kg); to evaluate the effect of EPO on neurodevelopment in preterm infants; to detect biological and imaging indicators of EPO. Eligible premature infants will be enrolled in this double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial from the neonatal neurological intensive care unit (NNICU) at 7 Children's Hospital in 6 provinces of China. Subjects will be enrolled within the first 24 hours of life and randomly assigned to receive Epo or saline vehicle placebo. Standard NICU care will be provided to all subjects. Pharmacokinetic data, serial brain electrophysiologic and imaging exams, circulating inflammatory mediators, biomarkers and complications like polycythemia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, hypertension, sepsis, hemorrhage, seizure, necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), persistent ductus arterious (PDA), apnea of prematurity, pulmonary haemorrhage, pulmonary hypertension, Prolonged blood coagulation time, retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), cardiac arrhythmia, major venous thrombosis, Renal failure treated with dialysis, pneumonia, pulmonary airleak and chronic lung disease will be collected at established time points during the study period. At 18 months corrected age, subjects will undergo a neurodevelopmental evaluation assessing for cerebral palsy, Bayley Scores of Mental Development Index (MDI) use.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Birthweight less or equal 1500 grams
2. Less than 32 weeks gestation at birth
3. Less than 48 hours of life at time of enrollment
4. Written informed consent of parent or guardian

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Intrauterine Growth Retardation
2. Severe Congenital Anomalies adversely affecting life expectancy or neurodevelopment
3. Genetic Metabolic Diseases
4. Seizures within first 24 hours of life
5. Severe neutropenia (ANC < 500 cells/microL) within first 24 hours of life
6. Polycythemia (Hct > 65%) within first 24 hours of life
7. Thrombocytopenia (platelets < 50K cells/microL) within first 24 hours of life
8. Hypertension (SBP > 100mmHg) without vasopressor support within first 24 hours of life
9. Microcephaly
10. Grade III-IV intracranial hemorrhage

Termination

1. Required by parent or guardian;
2. Polycythemia through blood transfusion can not be relieved
3. Oliguria（<0.5mL/kg/h for at least 24 hours）
4. Progression of azotemia
5. Pulmonary hypertension or Cardiac arrhythmia