In the first study, 505 patients with either preoperative anemia or iron deficiency were randomized to receive either 20 mg/kg ferric carboxymaltose, 40,000 U subcutaneous erythropoietin alfa, 1 mg subcutaneous B12, and 5 mg oral folic acid or placebo on the day before surgery [66]. The gene discussed is EPO; the disease is anemia.