Erythropoietin for Neonatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy: A Randomized Clinical Trial - Summary - MDSpire
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Erythropoietin Treatment in Neonatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy: Results from a Randomized Clinical Study

  • By

  • Helen G. Liley

  • Rod W. Hunt

  • Rachel L. O’Connell

  • Malcolm R. Battin

  • Iona Novak

  • Yvonne W. Wu

  • Roberta Ballard

  • Lisa Askie

  • Nadia Badawi

  • Alpana Ghadge

  • Susan E. Jacobs

  • Sandra E. Juul

  • Lucille Sebastian

  • Deepika Wagh

  • R. John Simes

  • PAEAN Study Investigators

  • Shannon Clough

  • Jennifer Bowen

  • Paul Colditz

  • Girsih Deshpande

  • Lisa Gold

  • Wendy Hague

  • Kei Lui

  • Dominic Wilkinson

  • Nicola Austin

  • Sarah Bellhouse

  • Max Berry

  • Clare Collins

  • Amanda Dyson

  • Antonio G de Paoli

  • Koert de Waal

  • Bevan Headley

  • Leah Hickey

  • James Holberton

  • David Hou

  • Alison L Kent

  • Vinayak Kodur

  • Richard Mausling

  • Scott Morris

  • Arun Nair

  • David Osborn

  • Victor Samuel Rajadurai

  • Nadia Schmidt

  • Jason Tan

  • Mark B Tracy

  • Flora Y Wong

  • Sarah Finlayson

  • Shannon Hunt

  • Carbo Yeung

  • Laurence Ralston

  • October 1, 2026

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Objective:

To evaluate whether repeated high-dose EPO alfa administered during the first week decreases death and disability at 2 years among late-preterm and term newborns receiving therapeutic hypothermia for hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE).

Approach:
  • Participants: Late-preterm and term newborns born at 35+0 weeks’ gestation or later with indicators of birth depression, including an Apgar score of 5 or less, ongoing resuscitation, or abnormal pH levels, and moderate or severe encephalopathy.
Key Findings:
  • EPO administration was hypothesized to improve neurodevelopmental outcomes compared to therapeutic hypothermia alone.
  • The study involved recruitment from 24 neonatal intensive care units across Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore.
Interpretation:

The study aimed to determine the efficacy of EPO in improving outcomes in infants with HIE receiving therapeutic hypothermia.

Limitations:
  • Exclusion of infants with certain contraindications, such as major congenital anomalies, may limit generalizability.
Conclusion:

The study's results will provide insights into the role of EPO in treating neonatal HIE and its potential impact on long-term outcomes.

Sources:

Original Source(s)

Erythropoietin for Neonatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy: A Randomized Clinical Trial

  • by Helen G. Liley, Rod W. Hunt, Rachel L. O’Connell, Malcolm R. Battin, Iona Novak, Yvonne W. Wu, Roberta Ballard, Lisa Askie, Nadia Badawi, Alpana Ghadge, Susan E. Jacobs, Sandra E. Juul, Lucille Sebastian, Deepika Wagh, R. John Simes, PAEAN Study Investigators, Shannon Clough, Jennifer Bowen, Paul Colditz, Girsih Deshpande, Lisa Gold, Wendy Hague, Kei Lui, Dominic Wilkinson, Nicola Austin, Sarah Bellhouse, Max Berry, Clare Collins, Amanda Dyson, Antonio G de Paoli, Koert de Waal, Bevan Headley, Leah Hickey, James Holberton, David Hou, Alison L Kent, Vinayak Kodur, Richard Mausling, Scott Morris, Arun Nair, David Osborn, Victor Samuel Rajadurai, Nadia Schmidt, Jason Tan, Mark B Tracy, Flora Y Wong, Sarah Finlayson, Shannon Hunt, Carbo Yeung, Laurence Ralston

  • October 1, 2026

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