Transfusion
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Recombinant human EPO (rHuEPO) has not gained broad acceptance in the treatment of the anemia of prematurity, because its efficacy in diminishing RBC transfusions is questionable. Meta-analysis was used to investigate the extent and reasons for variation in the results of published clinical trials. ⋯ Benefit from rHuEPO is detected across high-quality studies using conservative RBC transfusion criteria. However, there is extreme variation overall in the findings of available trials, and-until this variation is accounted for-it is premature to recommend rHuEPO as standard treatment for the anemia of prematurity.