patients who initiated hemodialysis and expected to be on hemodialysis for at least 1 year

patients initiating hemodialysis requiring treatment (erythropoiesis stimulating agent or red blood cell transfusion) to correct the anemia of chronic kidney disease who are receiving erythropoiesis stimulating agent treatment at study entry or patients who do not require erythropoiesis stimulating agent therapy (hb within or above target range)

life expectancy should be more than 12 months

patients contraindicated to receive erythropoiesis stimulating agent therapy (including but not limited to patients who develop pure red cell aplasia following treatment with any erythropoiesis stimulating agent )

patients entering the study on any other agent to increase red blood cell mass (such as androgen therapy, or investigational agents, or other non-approved erythropoiesis stimulating agent)

patients unwilling or unable to receive erythropoiesis stimulating agent therapy to correct the anemia of chronic kidney disease

patients with uncontrolled hypertension

patients who for any reason cannot receive adequate antithrombotic treatment