Background: Recombinant erythropoietin (rEPO) has erythropoiesis and anti-inflammatory properties that might help reduce lung injury in preterm infants.
Objective: To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the possible role of rEPO in altering the risk of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD).
Methods: PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library databases were searched to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that evaluated the effects of rEPO for the prevention of BPD in preterm infants.
Results: Fourteen studies (3199 infants) were included. Our results could not demonstrate a significant effect of rEPO on the incidence of BPD36 (risk ratio [RR]: 0.97, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.87-1.09, p = 0.63, I2 = 0, 12 RCTs, high-quality evidence), BPD28 (RR: 1.28, 95% CI: 0.91-1.79, p = 0.15, I2 = 17%, three RCTs, low-quality evidence) and oxygen dependence days. The test for subgroup analysis by administration route of rEPO showed similar outcomes above. Some of the included trials reported a significant effect of intravenous rEPO on reduction of sepsis (RR: 0.82, 95% CI: 0.70-0.96, p = 0.01, I2 = 0, high-quality evidence) and any stage necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) (RR: 0.75, 95% CI: 0.59-0.94, p = 0.01, I2 = 0, moderate-quality evidence). The incidence of mortality and stage II or higher NEC was comparable in rEPO and control infants.
Conclusion: Our results suggest that rEPO does not affect the risk of developing BPD in preterm infants. Adequately powered RCTs are required to further confirm these findings.
Keywords: bronchopulmonary dysplasia; erythropoietin; necrotizing enterocolitis; preterm; sepsis.
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