Study on the efficacy of recombinant human erythropoietin with less dosages or common dosages on anemia with malignancies

OBJECTIVE To compare the efficacy and side effects of recombinant human erythropoietin with less dosages or common dosages in anemia with malignancies.METHODS Forty-four cancer patients with anemia were randomly allocated to two rhEPO groups with less dosages or common dosages respectively.The efficacy of all patients were recorded every two weeks during treatment of eight weeks.RESULTS After treatment with rhEPO,the mean hemoglobin and hematocrit level of all cases increased gradually,and had statistical significance with those at baseline after four to six weeks of therapy.The significant difference in mean hemoglobin and hematocrit level from baseline was initially found at six weeks after therapy in less dosages group,and was found at four weeks after therapy in common dosages group.The eight-week effects and hemoglobin and hematocrit of less dosages group were less than those of common dosages group(P0.05 or P0.01).The adverse events and transfusion rates in the two groups all showed no statistical significance.CONCLUSION The efficacy of rhEPO with common dosages was better than rhEPO with less dosages on cancer patients with anemia,and there was no stastical difference between the two methods in adverse effects.