Additionally, in cardiac surgery, thefollowing events occur: beta-blockers suppress endogenous EPO production, andperioperative anemia diminishes the cardioprotective effect of beta-blockade;cytokines stimulated by inflammatory response associated with extracorporealcirculation limit EPO production; and perioperative renal ischemia may limit EPOproduction. The gene discussed is EPO; the disease is anemia (phenotype).