Inventors:
John F. A. Vance - Stowe VT
Robert I. Abels - Westfield NJ
Freedolph D. Anderson - Neshanic Station NJ
William L. Harris - Port Murray NJ
Dorothy Thompson - Hulmeville PA
Assignee:
Ortho Pharmaceutical Corporation - Raritan NJ
International Classification:
A61K 3816, A61K 3514, A01N 3718, C07K 100
Abstract:
A method for increasing the hematocrit of a normal mammal using erythropoietin (EPO) is provided. The method comprises the steps of administering to the mammal a hematocrit increasing effective amount of EPO, in a pharmaceutically acceptable form. Additionally administered is an effective amount of iron, in a pharmaceutically acceptable form, sufficient to increase the serum iron content of the mammal to an erythropoiesis supportable level. The method is useful for increasing the amount of blood that can be donated for transfusion purposes, in particular autologous transfusion.