Clinical application of recombinant erythropoietin in the perioperative period

Recombinant human erythropoietin (EPO) therapy as an alternative to allogenic blood transfusion has been studied extensively in the perisurgical period. The potential benefits of EPO in this setting are twofold; EPO enhances autologous blood collection in advance of elective surgery and stimulates erythropoiesis perioperatively. Clinical evidence of the role of EPO therapy in these settings to minimize allogenic blood exposure is presented.