Scully you cited, concerning EPO:
Benzyl alcohol has been reported to be associated with an increased incidence of neurological and other complications in premature infants which are sometimes fatal.
Now take a look at this study published in 2005 that i have found in a discussion with a jw's apologist on fr.soc.sectes:
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/115/6/1685
Randomized Trial of Liberal Versus Restrictive Guidelines for Red Blood Cell Transfusion in Preterm Infants
And the conclusion:
Results. Infants in the liberal-transfusion group received moreRBC transfusions (5.2 ± 4.5 [mean ± SD] vs 3.3± 2.9 in the restrictive-transfusion group). However,the number of donors to whom the infants were exposed was notsignificantly different (2.8 ± 2.5 vs 2.2 ± 2.0).
There was no difference between the groups in the percentageof infants who avoided transfusions altogether (12% in the liberal-transfusiongroup versus 10% in the restrictive-transfusion group). Infantsin the restrictive-transfusion group were more likely to haveintraparenchymal brain hemorrhage or periventricular leukomalacia,and they had more frequent episodes of apnea, including bothmild and severe episodes.
Conclusions. Although both transfusion programs were well tolerated,our finding of more frequent major adverse neurologic eventsin the restrictive RBC-transfusion group suggests that the practiceof restrictive transfusions may be harmful to preterm infants.
Randomized Trial of Liberal Versus Restrictive Guidelines for Red Blood Cell Transfusion in Preterm Infants
And the conclusion:
Results. Infants in the liberal-transfusion group received moreRBC transfusions (5.2 ± 4.5 [mean ± SD] vs 3.3± 2.9 in the restrictive-transfusion group). However,the number of donors to whom the infants were exposed was notsignificantly different (2.8 ± 2.5 vs 2.2 ± 2.0).
There was no difference between the groups in the percentageof infants who avoided transfusions altogether (12% in the liberal-transfusiongroup versus 10% in the restrictive-transfusion group). Infantsin the restrictive-transfusion group were more likely to haveintraparenchymal brain hemorrhage or periventricular leukomalacia,and they had more frequent episodes of apnea, including bothmild and severe episodes.
Conclusions. Although both transfusion programs were well tolerated,our finding of more frequent major adverse neurologic eventsin the restrictive RBC-transfusion group suggests that the practiceof restrictive transfusions may be harmful to preterm infants.
Three things:
1/Yes, the infants in the restrictive group have receveid less blood transfusions but were exposed at the same number of donor (less don't mean NO transfusion)
2/Concerning babies who have avoided transfusion, this is the same ratio
3/the babies in the restrictive group "were more likely to haveintraparenchymal brain hemorrhage or periventricular leukomalacia,and they had more frequent episodes of apnea, including bothmild and severe episodes", if we add neurological complication with EPO, we now know why doctors want to make transfusion on prematures and not give EPO.
Bye
Charles