Clinical data at baseline
| Erythropoietin (N=26) | Placebo (N=24) | |||
| n | Summary | n | Summary | |
| Maternal age, years | 26 | 23.7±4.3 | 24 | 23.8±4.4 |
| Primigravida | 26 | 15 (58%) | 24 | 12 (50%) |
| Maternal diabetes | 26 | 0 (0% | 24 | 0 (0%) |
| Hypertension | 26 | 1 (3.8%) | 24 | 8 (33.3%) |
| Anaemia | 26 | 2 (7.7%) | 24 | 1 (4.2%) |
| Thyroid problems | 26 | 2 (7.7%) | 24 | 3 (12.5%) |
| Prolonged rupture of membranes >24 hours | 26 | 2 (8%) | 24 | 1 (4%) |
| Reduced fetal movements | 26 | 3 (12%) | 23 | 3 (13%) |
| Intrapartum sentinel events | 26 | 1 (4%) | 24 | 4 (9.5%) |
| Mode of delivery | 26 | 24 | ||
| Instrumental delivery | 2 (8%) | 1 (4%) | ||
| Elective caesarean delivery | 1 (4%) | 0 (0%) | ||
| Emergency caesarean delivery | 3 (12%) | 7 (29%) | ||
| Place of delivery | 26 | 24 | ||
| Inborn | 22 (85%) | 21 (87%) | ||
| Outborn | 4 (15%) | 3 (13%) | ||
| Cord blood or pH within 1 hour of birth | 7 | 6.91±0.29 | 9 | 6.96±0.07 |
| Male sex | 26 | 16 (62%) | 24 | 21 (88%) |
| Apgar score at 5 min | 23 | 5 (4–6) | 24 | 5 (3–5) |
| Apgar score at 10 min | 19 | 6 (5–6) | 18 | 6 (5–6) |
| Birth weight, g | 26 | 2766±471 | 24 | 2884±572 |
| Birth weight <2 SD | 26 | 7 (27%) | 24 | 5 (21%) |
| Gestation, weeks | 26 | 38.9±1.1 | 24 | 38.5±1.4 |
| Head circumference, cm | 26 | 33.6±1.5 | 24 | 33.3±1.7 |
| Head circumference <2 SD | 26 | 2 (8%) | 24 | 3 (13%) |
| Endotracheal ventilation at birth | 26 | 23 (88%) | 24 | 21 (88%) |
| Age at admission to NICU, min | 26 | 25 (15–35) | 24 | 25 (20–33) |
| Stage of encephalopathy at randomisation | 26 | 24 | ||
| Moderate encephalopathy | 23 (88%) | 22 (92%) | ||
| Severe encephalopathy | 3 (12%) | 2 (8%) | ||
| Seizures at randomisation* | 26 | 9 (34.6%) | 24 | 8 (33.3%) |
| Age at first dose of the intervention (hours) | 26 | 4.4±1.2 | 24 | 4.1±1.0 |
Summary statistics are mean±SD, median (IQR) or number (percentage).
*Level 1 (definite), 2 (probable) or 3 seizures (possible) as per the updated International League against Epilepsy neonatal seizure task force classification.26
NICU, neonatal intensive care unit.