@article{3082037,
    title = "Prolonged administration of erythropoietin increases erythroid response
rate in myelodysplastic syndromes: a phase II trial in 281 patients",
    author = "Terpos, E and Mougiou, A and Kouraklis, A and Chatzivassili, A and and Michalis, E and Giannakoulas, N and Manioudaki, E and Lazaridou, A and and Bakaloudi, V and Protopappa, M and Liapi, D and Grouzi, E and and Parharidou, A and Symeonidis, A and Kokkini, G and Laoutaris, NP and and Vaipoulos, G and Anagnostopoulos, NI and Christakis, JI and Meletis, J and and Bourantas, KL and Zoumbos, NC and Yataganas, X and Viniou, NA and and Greek MDS Study Grp",
    journal = "British Journal of Haematology",
    year = "2002",
    volume = "118",
    number = "1",
    pages = "174-180",
    publisher = "Wiley",
    issn = "0007-1048, 1365-2141",
    doi = "10.1046/j.1365-2141.2002.03583.x",
    keywords = "erythropoietin; myelodysplastic syndrome; refractory anaemia (RA);
refractory anaemia with ringed sideroblasts (RARS); refractory anaemia
with excess of blasts (RAEB)",
    abstract = "Treatment with recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEpo) improves
anaemia in approximately 20% of patients with myelodysplastic syndromes
(MDS). We investigated the potential advantage of a prolonged
administration of rHuEpo to achieve higher erythroid response rates (RR)
in 281 MDS patients: 118 with refractory anaemia (RA), 77 with
refractory anaemia and ringed sideroblasts (RARS), 59 with refractory
anaemia with excess of blasts and blast count < 10% (RAEB-I), and 27
with RAEB and blast count between 11-20% (RAEB-II). rHuEpo was given
subcutaneously at a dose of 150 U/kg thrice weekly, for a minimum of 26
weeks. Response to treatment was evaluated after 12 and 26 weeks of
therapy. The overall RR was 45.1%; the RR for RA, RARS, RAEB-I and
RAEB-II were 48.3%, 58.4%, 33.8% and 13% respectively. A significant
increase in RR was observed at week 26 in RA, RARS and RAEB-I patients,
as the response probability increased with treatment duration. The RR
was higher in the good cytogenetic prognostic group and serum Epo level
of > 150 U/l at baseline predicted for non-response. The median duration
of response was 68 weeks and the overall risk of leukaemic
transformation was 21.7%. These results suggest that prolonged
administration of rHuEpo produces high and long-lasting erythroid RR in
MDS patients with low blast counts, particularly in those with
pretreatment serum Epo levels of < 150 U/l and good cytogenetic
prognosis."
}