The investigators hypothesize that compared to untreated controls, erythropoietin (EPO)
therapy in anemic patients with chronic kidney disease will raise diastolic blood pressure
(BP). The magnitude of increase in diastolic BP at 12 weeks after treatment will be related
to two factors. First, endothelial dysfunction and worsening of endothelial function from
baseline to 4 weeks and second, the change of forearm blood flow in response to breathing
oxygen and the change in this measure from baseline to 4 weeks. Study procedures include
fasting blood draws, ambulatory blood pressure, urine collection, and forearm blood flow
tests. The study hopes to accrue 160 subjects.