Response to erythropoietin according to the baseline Hb level in the oral and IV groups with a CRP less than or equal to 5 mg/l or more than 5 mg/l. Baseline hemoglobin was the hemoglobin value the day of the anesthetic consultation; day −1 hemoglobin was the hemoglobin value the day before surgery, after erythropoietin administration with oral or IV iron intake. This figure illustrates the change in hemoglobin in the two groups, in patients with a CRP more than 5 mg/l or less than or equal to 5 mg/l. After the preoperative erythropoietin treatment, in both groups, there was an association between the baseline hemoglobin and the hemoglobin the day before surgery. The higher the baseline hemoglobin, the higher the hemoglobin at day –1. In both groups, the increase in hemoglobin was higher in patients with a CRP less than or equal to 5 mg/l compared to the patients with a CRP more than 5 mg/l. The increase in hemoglobin was always higher in the IV group than in the oral group, with or without a CRP more than 5 mg/l. CRP, C-reactive protein; Hb, hemoglobin level; IV, intravenous.