Snapshot A 50-year-old man with a history of chronic kidney disease presents to the emergency room for fatigue. He reports he has felt short of breath and fatigued for the past few months. Physical exam shows a man with significant pallor. On laboratory examination, his hemoglobin is found to be 8 g/dL with decreased reticulocyte count. He is given epoeitin alfa with a target hemoglobin of 11 g/dL. introduction Drugs epoetin alpha recombinant human erythropoietin login to view 1 more bullet Mechanism of action stimulates red blood cell production by the bone marrow Clinical use anemia of renal failure bone marrow suppression chemotherapy-induced anemia drug-induced anemia Adverse effects fever nausea and vomiting rash pruritus increased hematocrit leading to thrombosis hypertension