Potential benefits and risks of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents
| Benefits |
| Higher hemoglobin levels18 |
| Decreased blood transfusion needs29 |
| Better quality of life23,30–32 |
| Reduction in left ventricular hypertrophy33 |
| Risks |
| Cardiovascular events21,24 |
| Malignancy-associated mortality24 |
| Thromboembolic events21,24 |
| Hypertension21–24 |
| Hemodialysis vascular-access thrombosis21 |