Transfusion
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Increased iron absorption during autologous blood donation supported by recombinant human erythropoietin therapy.
Recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) therapy improves the success of autologous blood (AB) donation programs before elective surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate iron absorption during an AB donation program with or without rHuEPO. ⋯ rHuEPO does not only improve the number of AB units collected but also their quality. Storage iron cannot meet marrow iron requirements, but rHuEPO strongly increased oral iron absorption in a dose-dependent fashion through stimulation of erythropoietic activity.