Erythropoietin Therapy in Patients With Chronic Renal Failure: A Study of Time Dependent Activity

Inclusion Criteria: * Chronic renal failure patients requiring hemodialysis and requiring r-HuEPO to maintain adequate hematocrit levels * Serum ferritin level \> 200 micrograms/L and transferrin saturation \> 15% * Serum erythropoietin level less than 500 mu/ml (when off r-HuEPO) * Prior therapy with r-HuEPO * An adequate program of dialysis established * Informed consent signed Exclusion Criteria: * Adocumented cause of anemia other than chronic renal disease * Symptoms of unstable coronary artery disease * Poorly controled hypertension * Known seizure disorder * Other active inflammatory or infective disorders * Other disorders that may diminish the response of the bone marrow to r-HuEPO