Erythropoietin-receptor agonists in critically ill patients: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Anemia and the need for red blood cell transfusions are common among patients admitted to intensive care units. Erythropoietin has been used to decrease the need for transfusions; however, its ability to improve clinical outcomes is unknown. We evaluated the effect of erythropoietin-receptor agonists on clinically important outcomes, including mortality, length of stay in hospital or intensive care unit, ventilator use, transfusion requirements and major adverse events.

Methods

To identify relevant studies, we searched electronic databases covering 1950 to 2007 (MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and the Scopus database). We also searched conference proceedings and grey literature sources. We selected all randomized controlled tr

SUBMITTER: Zarychanski R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1976638 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature