Is supplementary iron useful when preterm infants are treated with erythropoietin?

The search was carried out in May 2005 using the keywords {neonate(s) or infant(s) or newborn(s) or preterm(s)} and {erythropoietin or EPO or rHuEPO or recombinant human erythropoietin} and {an(a)emia or iron deficiency or iron or Fe or ferric compounds or ferrous compounds or ferrous sulphate or ferrous sulfate or ferrous fumarate} and {red cell transfusion}) limit to randomized controlled trials. 1- 6 Jadad score was calculated in all of these. 7 First author, year, country Patient group Study type (level of evidence) Outcome Key results Study weaknesses Carnielli et al, 1 1998, Italy 63 preterm infants with birth weight