Beschreibung:
<jats:p>Disturbances in the physiological regulation of erythropoietin (<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">EPO</jats:styled-content>) in patients with sickle cell disease (<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">SCD</jats:styled-content>) may contribute to worsening anaemia and increased transfusion requirements, but the use of recombinant <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">EPO</jats:styled-content> in this group of patients is controversial. The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of this drug in adult patients with <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">SCD</jats:styled-content> and its effects on haemoglobin levels and transfusion requirements. We conducted a retrospective analysis at the University of Campinas, with nineteen adults with a diagnosis of <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">SCD</jats:styled-content> (Hb<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">SS</jats:styled-content> and HbS/β<jats:sup>+</jats:sup> thalassaemia), who had received at least 1 year of <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">EPO</jats:styled-content> therapy between 2007 and 2014. Haemoglobin concentrations and trends of variation in transfused <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">RBC</jats:styled-content> volumes were compared before and after <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">EPO</jats:styled-content> administration. We observed that seven patients had a good response to treatment (Hb increment higher than 1·5 g/dl) and nine had a partial response (0·5–1·5 g/dl increment) and there was a significant decrease in the need for transfusion amongst those who usually required regular transfusions. There were no increases in the rates of vaso‐occlusive crisis or venous thromboembolism in comparison to the year before the onset of the therapy. Erythropoietin therapy led to a marked increase in haemoglobin concentration with a concomitant decrease in the demand for transfusion. Considering all complications related to allogeneic transfusion, we believe that <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">EPO</jats:styled-content> therapy represents an important therapeutic tool in sickle cell anaemia.</jats:p>