The impact of endogenous erythropoietin-mediated erythropoiesis or ESA mediated erythropoiesis, on iron saturation and ferritin. Patients undergoing autologous blood donation before elective orthopaedic surgery are shown at baseline and after treatment with placebo or 1 of 2 doses of recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) at each visit during the donation period. All patients received supplemental oral iron. Mean transferrin saturation in 24 patients receiving placebo, 300 U/kg rHuEPO, or 600 U/kg rHuEPO (θ).²¹