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Abstract Background: Sepsis remains a critical problem with significant morbidity and mortality even in the modern era of critical care management. The aim of this work is to evaluate the potential benefits and risks of the use of recombinant human erythropoietin in septic patients. Methods: It’s a prospective, randomized, single blind, study including two groups of patients, 25 each, with group A receiving standard therapy for sepsis plus Recombinant Human Erythropoietin (Eprex®) at dose of 10,000 IU twice weekly subcutaneously, on the first and fourth day after ICU admission with sepsis and to be repeated on the same days for the next weeks. group B received standard therapy for sepsis without the use of Recombinant Human Erythropoietin. The following values were measured recorded: hemodynamic parameters (blood pressure & heart rate), need for vasopressors, duration of vasopressor support (if needed), need for blood transfusion, hemoglobin and Hematocrit, serum creatinine, incidence of DVT, duration of ICU & mortality Rates. Results: There was a significant reduction in the need for blood transfusion in group A compared to group B. But, there were no significant differences between the two groups as regards hemodynamics, the need and the duration of vassopressors, number of transfused units of blood, incidence of thromboembolism, duration of ICU stay or mortality rates. Conclusion: Erythropoietin in ICU may have a role in reducing the need for blood transfusion in septic patients throughout the ICU stay. |