Administration of recombinant human erythropoietin in patients with gynecological cancer before radical surgery

The purpose of this prospective study was to investigate the efficacy of preoperative administration of recombinant human erythropoietin in patients with gynecological cancer. METHODS: The study included 38 women with gynecological cancer who were divided randomly in two groups. Study group A included 20 women with gynecological cancer who received recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) plus iron supplementation for ten days before surgery and five days postoperatively. Group B (controls) included 18 patients who received only iron supplementation for the same time period. Blood samples were obtained on days -10, -3, 0, +3, +5, +10. RESULTS: The mean hemoglobin level was significantly higher in group A than in group B on the day of the operation and remained significantly higher postoperatively while an inverse relationship was observed for mean ferritin values in the two groups. CONCLUSION: Preoperative administration of rHuEPO in patients with gynecological cancer seems to be effective in the blood management of these patients.