Anemia of chronic renal failure: Starting dose, 50–100 units/kg three times weekly IV for dialysis patients and IV or subcutaneously for nondialysis patients. Reduce dose if Hgb increases more than 1 g/dL in any 2-wk period. Reduce dose by 25% if Hgb is 11 g/dL. Increase dose if Hgb does not increase by 1 g/dL after 4 wk of therapy or if Hgb is less than 10 g/dL. For maintenance dose, individualized based on Hgb—generally, 75–100 units/kg three times weekly. If on dialysis, median dose is 75 units/kg three times weekly. Target Hgb range is 10–11 g/dL.

Treatment of anemia in HIV-infected patients on AZT therapy: For patients receiving AZT dose of 4,200 mg/wk or less with serum erythropoietin levels of 500 milliunits/mL or less, use 100 units/kg IV or subcutaneously three times/wk for 8 wk; when desired response is achieved, titrate dose to maintain Hgb with lowest possible dose.

Treatment of anemia in cancer patients on chemotherapy (Procrit only): 150 units/kg subcutaneously three times/wk or 40,000 units subcutaneously weekly; after 8 wk, can be increased to 300 units/kg or 60,000 units subcutaneously weekly if Hgb increases by less than 1 g/dL and remains below 10 g/dL.

Reduction of allogenic blood transfusions in surgery: 300 units/kg/day subcutaneously for 10 days before surgery, on day of surgery, and 4 days after surgery. Or, 600 units/kg/day subcutaneously 21, 14, and 7 days before surgery and on day of surgery. Make sure that Hgb is higher than 10 g/dL and lower than 11 g/dL.