Perioperative administration of high‐dose recombinant human erythropoietin for delayed graft function prevention in kidney transplantation: a meta‐analysis

Summary Delayed graft function (DGF) due to ischemia–reperfusion injury is a major early complication of kidney transplantation (KT). Recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) has been shown to exert nephroprotective action in animal models. We conducted a meta‐analysis to explore the impact of rHuEPO on DGF in KT. Eligible studies comparing perioperative high‐dose rHuEPO with placebo or no therapy for prevention of DGF were identified through MEDLINE, CENTRAL, and Transplant Library. Their design and data were assessed by two independent reviewers. Among 737 examined studies, four randomized controlled trials, involving 356 recipients of kidney allografts from deceased donors, fulfilled inclusion criteria. Statistical heterogeneity across studies was not significant (P = 0.98, I2 = 0%). In a random effects model, no significant difference was found in the occurrence of DGF (odds ratio: 0,74, 95% CI: 0.47–1.18, P = 0.21). At 4 weeks after KT, the rHuEPO group exhibited higher systolic blood pressure (mean difference: 6.47 mmHg, 95% CI: 1.25–11.68, P = 0.02). Perioperative, high‐dose rHuEPO administration does not prevent DGF in deceased donor KT. Furthermore, it is associated with higher systolic blood pressure leading to safety concerns. Nonerythropoietic rHuEPO derivatives, designed for nephroprotective action without increasing cardiovascular risk, might prove an alternative but still are at early stages of development.