EPO and myelodysplastic syndrome: However, in a retrospective series of 135 MDS patients with low-risk refractory anemia receiving subcutaneous epoetin-α (40,000 IU/session), the comparative efficacy of oral SI (28 mg/day), IV FG (62.5 mg, along with epoetin-α), or no iron in supporting the erythropoietic response to ESA was studied over 3 months [74].