Abstract
We report the use of recombinant human erythropoietin (rh‐Ep) as an alternative to transfusion therapy in a burn victim who was a Jehovah's Witness and refused blood transfusion. Despite endogenous elevated erythropoietin levels, the patient was reticulocytopenic and administration of rh‐Ep was accompanied by a 10‐fold increase in reticulocyte response and a rise in hemoglobin from 7.4 to 10.4 g/dl over a 12‐day period. We suggest that the exogenously administered erythropoietin overcame a clinically inadequate endogenous erythropoietin response.
Original language | English (US) |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 53-54 |
Number of pages | 2 |
Journal | American Journal of Hematology |
Volume | 37 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - May 1991 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- anemia
- burns
- recombinant human erythropoietin (rh‐Ep)
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Hematology