Clinical trial NCT03776851: Erythropoietin in Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome
Official title: Effect of Erythropoietin on Red Blood Cell Requirement in Children With Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome: a Randomized Controlled Trial
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: PHASE4
Conditions: Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome
Anemia
Keywords: Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome
erythropoietin
RBC transfusion
Lead sponsor: Hospital General de Niños Pedro de Elizalde
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2018-12-17
Enrollment: 24
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 1
Maximum age (years): 18
Standard ages: CHILD
ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Brief summary: This study will evaluate the impact of early administration of erythropoietin in the number of red blood cell transfusions in children with Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli hemolytic uremic syndrome (STEC-HUS).

Detailed description: Introduction:

Anemia in STEC-HUS is treated with red blood cell (RBC) transfusions. It can causes hypervolemia, hyperkalemia, exacerbate the thrombotic state of the disease, transmit infectious agents and trigger antigenic sensitization. Anemia is mainly due to hemolysis, but deficit of erythropoietin synthesis (EPO) may aggravate it. Although recombinant human EPO is frequently used in children with STEC-HUS there is no adequate evidence of its benefit. If it is confirmed that EPO reduce the number of RBC transfusions, its administration could diminish the aforementioned risks and also reduce costs.

Objective:

To determine if EPO administration decreases the number of RBC transfusions and; secondarily, to assess if its levels influence on transfusion requirement.

Methodology:

Randomized, open controlled clinical trial. We will include 28 patients (14 per arm) \<18 years with STEC-HUS admitted to our hospital. They will be grouped after randomization:(1) One to standard of care (RBC transfusions with hemoglobin ≤7 mg / dl and/or hemodynamic instability) and (2) the other to standard of care plus EPO (50 u / kg subcutaneous three times weekly) and RBC transfusions with hemoglobin ≤7 mg / dl). Serum EPO will be measured by ELISA and together with the clinical and laboratory variables, association with RBC transfusions number will be sought. Written informed consent and assent when appropriate, will be requested prior to enter into the study.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Post diarrheal HUS: Prodrome of enteritis followed by microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia and signs of renal damage (increased plasma creatinine, proteinuria, and / or hematuria). Proven STEC infection wiil not be required to enter into the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Atypical HUS
* HUS associated with systemic diseases (pneumococcal infection, HIV, Systemic lupus erythematosus) or drugs
* Anemia or known kidney disease
* Previously transfused or treated with erythropoietin
* Contraindications to erythropoietin

Primary outcomes:
measure: Number of RBC transfusions
timeFrame: At the end of the 36 month study recruiting period
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Erythropoietin levels
timeFrame: At the end of the 36 month study recruiting period
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Caba
country: Argentina
facility: HGNPE
Study officials:
affiliation: Hospital General de Niños Pedro de Elizalde
name: Alejandro Balestracci, MD, PhD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References:
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citation: Warady BA, Silverstein DM. Management of anemia with erythropoietic-stimulating agents in children with chronic kidney disease. Pediatr Nephrol. 2014 Sep;29(9):1493-505. doi: 10.1007/s00467-013-2557-x. Epub 2013 Sep 5.
citation: Pape L, Ahlenstiel T, Kreuzer M, Drube J, Froede K, Franke D, Ehrich JH, Haubitz M. Early erythropoietin reduced the need for red blood cell transfusion in childhood hemolytic uremic syndrome: a randomized prospective pilot trial. Pediatr Nephrol. 2009 May;24(5):1061-4. doi: 10.1007/s00467-008-1087-4. Epub 2008 Dec 16.
citation: Balestracci A, Martin SM, Toledo I, Alvarado C, Wainsztein RE. Early erythropoietin in post-diarrheal hemolytic uremic syndrome: a case-control study. Pediatr Nephrol. 2015 Feb;30(2):339-44. doi: 10.1007/s00467-014-2911-7. Epub 2014 Aug 21.
citation: Balestracci A, Capone MA, Meni Battaglia L, Toledo I, Martin SM, Beaudoin L, Balbaryski J, Gomez L. Erythropoietin in children with hemolytic uremic syndrome: a pilot randomized controlled trial. Pediatr Nephrol. 2022 Oct;37(10):2383-2392. doi: 10.1007/s00467-022-05474-9. Epub 2022 Feb 15.