EPO and hepatitis B virus infection: It is noteworthy that the high prevalence rates of these viral infections seen in the past [8, 9] decreased consistently in the last 10–15 years and are now approaching the numbers for the general population as a consequence of reduction of the blood transfusion secondary to the erythropoietin availability and adoption of universal environmental precautions and, in case of hepatitis B, to the development of an effective vaccine.