Figure 1: Absolute numbers (and box plots) of EPCs per high power field before and after 8 weeks of rhEPO treatment in 11 patients with renal anemia. For comparison we show absolute EPC numbers of 11 age and gender matched healthy subjects. The absolute number of functionally active EPCs in renal patients before rhEPO therapy was significantly lower than in healthy subjects (p<0.01), but increased to comparable levels during treatment with rhEPO.