A SINGLE INSTITUTIONAL EXPERIENCE: Is Epoetin Alpha Effective in Anemic Children with Cancer?

Figures & data

Mean Hb Changes by Months in the Study and the Control Groups

	Study group	p	Control group	p
−3rd month	9.62 ± 0.37		9.46 ± 0.30
−2nd month	9.31 ± 0.23	NS	9.18 ± 0.21	NS
−1st month	8.59 ± 0.18	.001	8.94 ± 0.22	NS
+1st month	9.10 ± 0.17	NS	8.84 ± 0.21	NS
+2nd month	9.73 ± 0.21	.008	8.75 ± 0.19	NS
+3rd month	10.85 ± 0.20	.0001	8.77 ± 0.21	NS

P value shows monthly comparisons of Hb determined in two consecutive months.

NS: Not significant (p >. 05).

1 Mean Hb levels (g/dL) of the patients before and after epoetin-alpha treatment.

Mean Hemoglobin Levels (g/dL) of the Study and the Control Groups. First 3-Month Period Served as Their Own Controls

	Patients with HM			Patients with ST
	Study group	Control group	p	Study group	Control group	p
−3rd month	8.93 ± 0.44	9.00 ± 0.38	NS	10.52 ± 0.53	10.39 ± 0.32	NS
−2nd month	9.08 ± 0.26	9.86 ± 0.25	NS	9.73 ± 0.42	9.82 ± 0.27	NS
−1st month	8.44 ± 0.25	8.17 ± 0.28	NS	8.89 ± 0.22	9.41 ± 0.35	NS
+1st month	8.93 ± 0.22	8.51 ± 0.28	NS	9.44 ± 0.27	9.49 ± 0.22	NS
+2nd month	9.50 ± 0.27	8.63 ± 0.25	.04	10.15 ± 0.29	8.99 ± 0.28	.01
+3rd month	10.85 ± 0.25	8.81 ± 0.29	.0001	10.85 ± 0.34	8.70 ± 0.30	.0006

NS: Not significant (p >. 05).

Red Cell Transfusion Requirement by Months in the Study and the Control Groups (Unit Per Patient)

	Patients with HM			Patients with ST
	Study	Control	p	Study	Control	p
−3rd month	1.00 ± 0.33	1.70 ± 0.36	NS	0.38 ± 0.26	0.10 ± 0.10	NS
−2nd month	1.00 ± 0.41	0.75 ± 0.23	NS	0.22 ± 0.15	0.20 ± 0.13	NS
−1st month	1.81 ± 0.27	1.00 ± 0.19	.04	0.36 ± 0.17	0.20 ± 0.13	NS
+1st month	1.15 ± 0.20	0.90 ± 0.20	NS	0.14 ± 0.10	0.10 ± 0.10	NS
+2nd month	0.59 ± 0.20	0.50 ± 0.14	NS	0.15 ± 0.10	0.40 ± 0.22	NS
+3rd month	0.11 ± 0.06	0.65 ± 0.15	.001	0.00 ± 0.00	0.50 ± 0.22	.01

NS: Not significant (p >. 05).

2 The percentages of the patients who required red cell transfusion.

Mean Hb Concentrations of the Patients that Received Epoetin-Alpha at the Dose of 150 U/kg According to Initial Hb Concentrations of the Treatment

	Patients with HM			Patients with ST
	Hb0 < 8 g/dL (p = 6)	Hb0 > 8 g/dL (p = 7)	p	Hb0 < 8 g/dL (p = 4)	Hb0 > 8 g/dL (p = 4)	p
+1st mo	8.80 ± 0.48	9.05 ± 0.50	NS	9.40 ± 0.44	8.75 ± 0.70	NS
+2nd mo	8.75 ± 0.61	10.09 ± 0.51	NS	10.00 ± 0.35	10.84 ± 1.78	NS
+3rd mo	9.54 ± 0.50	11.41 ± 0.31	.01	10.97 ± 0.60	12.33 ± 0.57	NS

Hb₀: Hemoglobin level at the first day; NS: Not significant.

Mean Hb Changes by Months During Epoetin-Alpha Treatment at the Dose of 250 U/kg According to Initial Hb Levels of the Treatment

	Patients with HM			Patients with ST
	Hb0 < 8 g/dL (n = 6)	Hb0 > 8 g/dL (n = 7)	p	Hb0 < 8 g/dL (n = 4)	Hb0 > 8 g/dL (n = 3)	p
+1st mo	9.12 ± 0.15	8.47 ± 0.31	NS	9.06 ± 0.17	10.02 ± 0.54	NS
+2nd mo	8.94 ± 0.29	10.15 ± 0.45	NS	10.53 ± 1.13	9.81 ± 0.22	NS
+3rd mo	10.76 ± 0.50	11.43 ± 0.39	NS	10.40 ± 0.16	10.17 ± 0.35	NS

Hb₀: Hb level at the first day; NS: Not significant.