| 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 |
