A Study to Evaluate the Safety of Epoetin Alfa and Its Effectiveness in Facilitating the Presurgical Collection of Blood From Anemic Patients for Possible Self-transfusion During and After Scheduled Joint Surgery.

Inclusion Criteria: * Patients scheduled for surgery involving the joints, 25 to 35 days after starting epoetin alfa therapy * having a hematocrit (percentage of red cells in the blood) of \<=39% * in good general health. Exclusion Criteria: * Patients with a history of any primary blood disease * having a history of artery blockage in the heart, body or brain, a history of seizures, uncontrolled high blood pressure, or active inflammatory disease, (except osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis) * losing blood internally from the stomach or intestines or elsewhere in the body * using of any cell toxic drug, drugs that suppress the immune system, or drugs known to influence red blood cell production (such as chemotherapy for cancer) within 1 month of therapy * having a folate or vitamin B12 deficiency, iron-deficiency anemia, or a disease that destroys blood cells.