EPO and ischemia reperfusion injury: The aim of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effects of the combination of erythropoietin and methylprednisolone in the treatment of ischemia-reperfusion injury to the spinal cord and to analyze its effects on the levels of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA), and interleukin-8 (IL-8).