Effect of erythropoietin and transfusion threshold on neurological recovery after traumatic brain injury: a randomized clinical trial

JAMA. 2014 Jul 2;312(1):36-47. doi: 10.1001/jama.2014.6490.

Abstract

Importance: There is limited information about the effect of erythropoietin or a high hemoglobin transfusion threshold after a traumatic brain injury.

Objective: To compare the effects of erythropoietin and 2 hemoglobin transfusion thresholds (7 and 10 g/dL) on neurological recovery after traumatic brain injury.

Design, setting, and participants: Randomized clinical trial of 200 patients (erythropoietin, n = 102; placebo, n = 98) with closed head injury who were unable to follow commands and were enrolled within 6 hours of injury at neurosurgical intensive care units in 2 US level I trauma centers between May 2006 and August 2012. The study used a factorial design to test whether erythropoietin would fail to improve favorable outcomes by 20% and whether a hemoglobin transfusion threshold of greater than 10 g/dL would increase favorable outcomes without increasing complications. Erythropoietin or placebo was initially dosed daily for 3 days and then weekly for 2 more weeks (n = 74) and then the 24- and 48-hour doses were stopped for the remainder of the patients (n = 126). There were 99 patients assigned to a hemoglobin transfusion threshold of 7 g/dL and 101 patients assigned to 10 g/dL.

Interventions: Intravenous erythropoietin (500 IU/kg per dose) or saline. Transfusion threshold maintained with packed red blood cells.

Main outcomes and measures: Glasgow Outcome Scale score dichotomized as favorable (good recovery and moderate disability) or unfavorable (severe disability, vegetative, or dead) at 6 months postinjury.

Results: There was no interaction between erythropoietin and hemoglobin transfusion threshold. Compared with placebo (favorable outcome rate: 34/89 [38.2%; 95% CI, 28.1% to 49.1%]), both erythropoietin groups were futile (first dosing regimen: 17/35 [48.6%; 95% CI, 31.4% to 66.0%], P = .13; second dosing regimen: 17/57 [29.8%; 95% CI, 18.4% to 43.4%], P < .001). Favorable outcome rates were 37/87 (42.5%) for the hemoglobin transfusion threshold of 7 g/dL and 31/94 (33.0%) for 10 g/dL (95% CI for the difference, -0.06 to 0.25, P = .28). There was a higher incidence of thromboembolic events for the transfusion threshold of 10 g/dL (22/101 [21.8%] vs 8/99 [8.1%] for the threshold of 7 g/dL, odds ratio, 0.32 [95% CI, 0.12 to 0.79], P = .009).

Conclusions and relevance: In patients with closed head injury, neither the administration of erythropoietin nor maintaining hemoglobin concentration of greater than 10 g/dL resulted in improved neurological outcome at 6 months. The transfusion threshold of 10 g/dL was associated with a higher incidence of adverse events. These findings do not support either approach in this setting.

Trial registration: clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00313716.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anemia / complications
  • Anemia / etiology
  • Anemia / therapy*
  • Brain Injuries / complications*
  • Brain Injuries / therapy
  • Erythrocyte Transfusion / adverse effects*
  • Erythrocyte Transfusion / methods
  • Erythropoietin / administration & dosage*
  • Female
  • Glasgow Outcome Scale
  • Hemoglobins / analysis*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neurologic Examination
  • Persistent Vegetative State
  • Reference Values
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Thromboembolism / chemically induced
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Hemoglobins
  • Erythropoietin

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT00313716