Anemia of prematurity is common in very low birth weight premature infants. Treatment of this disorder includes red blood cell transfusions. Recombinant erythropoietin treatment failed to decrease transfusions in the first few weeks of life;anemia in this period of life may be related to the frequent blood withdrawals. Donor reduction programs, safe transfusion methods, and restrictive transfusion protocols have decreased the infectious complications of transfusions. Long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes in newborns with asymptomatic anemia are also controversial. Therefore, more restrictive transfusion guidelines should be used during this period. Preventing or limiting blood loss by phlebotomies should be the first goal. Iron deficiency anemia in these babies is common in the infancy period;therefore, periodic screening until 18 months of age is required.

Keywords: prematüre anemisi, eritropoetin, transfüzyon.