Ananthan A, et al. - This systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was performed to assess the effects of recombinant erythropoietin (rEPO) on clinical outcomes such as feeding intolerance, stage II or higher necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), any stage NEC, sepsis, retinopathy of prematurity, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia in preterm neonates. Thirteen RCTs were meta-analyzed suggesting no marked effect of rEPO on mortality, retinopathy of prematurity, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia. No effect of prophylactic rEPO on stage II or higher NEC was noted, but it led to a reduction in any stage NEC, probably by reducing feeding intolerance, which is often labeled as stage I NEC.