The Effects of Normal as Compared with Low Hematocrit Values in Patients with Cardiac Disease Who Are Receiving Hemodialysis and Epoetin

In this randomized, prospective, open-label trial, we studied 1233 patients with congestive heart failure or ischemic heart disease who were undergoing hemodialysis at 51 centers (see the Appendix). The institutional review boards at all centers approved the protocol, and all the patients gave written, informed consent. All the patients had end-stage renal disease and were undergoing longterm hemodialysis, and they had hematocrit values of 27 to 33 percent while receiving epoetin during the four weeks before enrollment. Ninety percent of the patients received epoetin intrave-