The international surgical journal with global reach

This is the Scientific Surgery Archive, which contains all randomized clinical trials in surgery that have been identified by searching the top 50 English language medical journal issues since January 1998. Compiled by Jonothan J. Earnshaw, former Editor-in-Chief, BJS

Adding epoitin alpha to intense-dose adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer: randomized clinical trial. J Natl Cancer Inst 2013; 105: 1018-1026.

Published: 12th December 2013

Authors: Moebus V, Jackish C, Schneeweiss A, Huober J, Lueck H-J, du Bois A et al. et al.

Conclusion

Some 658 patients randomized to the intense dose regimen were allocated epoitin at random. At median follow-up of 62 months, there was no effect on survival, but patients that had epoitin had a stable haemoglobin and were less likely to need blood transfusion: 12.8 versus 28.1 per cent; P<0.0001. They did have more thrombotic events (7 versus 3 per cent).

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