Introduction: Erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) are used in treating cancer- and chemotherapy-induced anemia with the aim of accelerating the recovery of red blood cells (RBCs), reduce the risks associated with RBC transfusions and improve quality of life.
Areas covered: A systematic review has been conducted to examine the current evidence for the efficacy and safety of using ESAs in hematopoietic stem cell transplants (HSCTs).
Expert opinion: Despite the international recommendations for the use of ESAs in treating different malignancies, there is a lack of guidelines for their use in patients undergoing HSCT. An evaluation of published clinical trials shows that there are no available powerful studies concerning the use of ESAs in this setting, with only heterogeneous and small numbers of patients reported so far. Nevertheless, the more robust and intriguing of these data suggest that the ESA's administration at an appropriate time after the infusion of stem cells may be effective both in autologous and allogeneic HSCTs. New guidelines are required, overseen by an expert in the in the field of stem cell transplantation.
Keywords: allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant; autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant; erythropoiesis-stimulating agents; erythropoietin.