Lima‐Rogel 1998

Methods	Double‐blind randomised controlled trial Study location: single centre, Mexico Study period: 1995 to 1996
Participants	40 VLBW infants with birth weight between 750 and 1500 grams at < 26 weeks' gestation
Interventions	21 infants in the EPO group received EPO (Eprex 4000, Cilag de Mexico SA de CV) 150 units/kg/d (during first 6 weeks of life), 1050 IU/kg/week (high dose), and 19 infants in the control group received placebo. Iron 4 mg/kg/d (low dose)
Outcomes	Number of transfusions per group Sepsis NEC IVH (grade not reported) BPD (age not stated)
Notes	We could not ascertain whether transfusion guidelines were in place, and if infants who had received blood transfusions before study entry were included.
Risk of bias
Bias	Authors' judgement	Support for judgement
Random sequence generation (selection bias)	Unclear risk	Unclear
Allocation concealment (selection bias)	Unclear risk	Infants were randomly assigned.
Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias) All outcomes	Low risk	Observers were unaware of treatment assignments. Placebo was used.
Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias) All outcomes	Low risk	Observers were unaware of treatment assignments. Placebo was used.
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes	Low risk	Complete follow‐up: yes
Selective reporting (reporting bias)	Unclear risk	The protocol for the study was not available to us; therefore we cannot ascertain whether deviations from the protocol occurred.
Other bias	Low risk	Appears free of other bias