More recently, 30 patients with RA and anemia were treated with 150 IU/kg recombinant human erythropoietin twice weekly for 12 weeks, along with 200 mg of intravenous iron sucrose per week in the 23 patients who developed functional iron deficiency.
Average hemoglobin increased from 10.7 to 13.2 g/dL after a mean treatment period of 8 weeks. With recombinant human erythrpoietin treatment, patients also experienced increased muscle strength, decreased fatigue, fewer swollen or tender joints, and other improvements in disease activity variables (J. Rheumatol. 2001;28:2430–6).
But, Dr. Bathon said in an interview with RHEUMATOLOGY NEWS, erythropoietin “hasn't been studied enough to provide guidelines for its use, except perhaps prior to surgery where a lot of bleeding is anticipated.”
Moreover, “it's kind of fallen by the wayside,” in large part because “treatment of RA largely resolves the anemia.”
Indeed, it may simply be that addressing the cause of the underlying inflammation—in RA, infections, or other chronic conditions—will correct its accompanying anemia as well.