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Major concerns have been expressed about use of erythropoietin in patients with anemia; these concerns culminated in warnings that advised limited use of the agent in patients who are at risk for thrombosis, such as those with cancer or heart disease. Many thought that this risk was incurred when erythropoietin was used to raise hemoglobin levels higher than 12 g/dL, but a new study suggests that thrombosis can occur even in patients whose target hemoglobin levels are lower than this value.
University-based investigators at 115 U.S. medical centers conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of erythropoietin in 1460 patients with hemoglobin concentrations lower than 12 g/dL who were admitted to medical or surgical intensi…