Study of erythropoietin in treatment of anaemia in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

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Abstract
Twenty patients with definite rheumatoid arthritis and aged 42-75 were enrolled in the study; they were randomly allocated to erythropoietin (10) and placebo (10). Patients had been receiving a stable dose of second line drug treatment for at least 12 weeks. No patients were taking cytotoxic drugs or steroids. Entry into the study required a baseline haemoglobin concentration of <100 g/l (mean of three readings in the month before entry). Iron deficiency was excluded and all patients were given oral iron supplements. One patient with iron deficiency was enrolled in error and was withdrawn. Human recombinant erythropoietin and matching placebo (saline) were supplied in blinded phials. The drug or placebo was injected subcutaneously twice a week for 20 weeks, starting at 40 U/kg (patients 1- 10) and 100 U/kg (patients 11-20). The dosage was reviewed every four weeks and increased if the rise in haemoglobin concentration was <10 g/l per four weeks.