EPO and myelodysplastic syndrome: ATRA + erythropoietin (EPO) treated 27 patients with low- or intermediate-risk MDS; 13 patients (48%) experienced a clinically significant erythrocyte response with a rise in hemoglobin level of at least 1 g/dL or a reduction in transfusion requirements, 5 of 12 neutropenic patients had a neutrophilic response, 6 of 9 thrombocytopenic patients had platelet responses, and three patients had a whole blood cell response; all patients had tolerable side effects (Stasi et al., 2002).