EPO and myelodysplastic syndrome: Standard care for patients with lower-risk MDS remains treatment with erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs), with granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) in patients with neutropenia and recurrent infections, cytomegalovirus-safe red blood cell (RBC) transfusions/G-CSF with erythropoietin (EPO) in the case of anemia,17,19 and supportive care with platelet transfusions in the presence of thrombocytopenia.20 During the course of their disease, 50% of patients with MDS will need RBC transfusions9 and 6% to 33% will need platelet transfusions.21