Production of new RBCs in patients treated with IV rHuEpo at a total dose of 1,800 IU/kg and in patients treated with SC rHuEpo at a dose of 800 IU/kg. Both groups received IV iron supplements. Data are from the Department of Immunohematology and Blood Transfusion, Istituto Ortopedico Gaetano Pini (Milan, Italy). The study was performed on 22 patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis and about to undergo total hip replacement or total knee replacement who were unsuitable for inclusion in the predeposit program due to anemia (Hct <34%). Patients enrolled in the study received 100 IU/kg rHuEpo SC twice a week for 3 weeks + one 200 IU/kg bolus of IV rHuEpo at the time of the first administration (total dose, 800 IU/kg; 11 patients) or 300 IU/kg IV rHuEpo twice a week for 3 weeks (total dose, 1,800 IU/kg; 11 patients). Apart from 1 patient in the group treated with IV rHuEpo, all the remaining were able to predeposit autologous blood units. SC administration of a rHuEpo dose 55% less than the IV dose was found to be equally effective in terms of average number of units predeposited (2.6 ± 0.9 v 2.6 ± 0.6), the number of allogeneic units transfused per patient (0.3 ± 0.8 and 0.8 ± 0.8, respectively), and the total number of units transfused per patient (3.1 ± 0.9 and 3.1 ± 0.6, respectively). A significant reduction in the number of allogeneic units transfused per patient was noted compared with an untreated historical group (0.5 ± 0.8 v 2.6 ± 1.6; P = .002).