OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical effects of the early use of recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) on the neurointelligence development in very low birth weight infants (VLBWI).

METHODSSeventy-eight VLBWI were divided into rhEPO treatment group (n=35) and control group (n=43) according to the choice of their parents. Neonatal behavioral neurological assessment (NBNA) was performed at 40 weeks of corrected gestational age. The Gesell Developmental Schedules were used for neurodevelopmental evaluation at 3, 6, and 12 months of corrected age. The abnormal rates of auditory brainstem response (ABR) and cranial ultrasound were evaluated at 6 months of corrected age.

RESULTSThe rhEPO treatment group had significantly higher NBNA scores at 40 weeks of corrected gestational age than the control group (P<0.05). The adaptability at 3 months of corrected age, the gross motor, adaptability, and sociability at 6 months, and the gross motor, adaptability, fine motor, sociability, and language at 12 months were significantly better in the rhEPO treatment group than in the control group (P<0.05). The abnormal rates of ABR and cranial ultrasound in the rhEPO treatment group were significantly lower than in the control group at 6 months of corrected age (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSEarly use of rhEPO can promote the early recovery of neurological symptoms and improve the cognitive, motor, and language abilities in VLBWI due to its protective effects on the nervous system.