A Study to Confirm the Safety and Efficacy of Epoetin Alfa (PROCRIT) Administered Perioperatively vs. the Standard of Care in Blood Conservation in Patients Undergoing Major Elective Spinal Surgery (SPINE Study)

Inclusion Criteria: Subjects scheduled for elective spinal surgery (with a minimum of 3-weeks lead time) with significant anticipated perioperative blood loss (2-4 units of blood) Hemoglobin >10 and < 13 g/dL at screening Female subjects must be post menopausal for at least one year, surgically incapable of childbearing (hysterectomy or tubal ligation), or practicing an acceptable method of birth control (e.g., hormonal contraceptives, intrauterine devices, or barrier and spermicide). The subject should continue with the same method for the duration of the study. If a female subject is practicing an acceptable method of birth control, she must have maintained her normal menstrual pattern within the three months prior to study entry No clinically significant abnormal hematologic or serum chemistry values. Negative serum pregnancy test for female subjects not post menopausal for at least one year or surgically incapable of childbearing (hysterectomy or tubal ligation) Exclusion Criteria: No primary hematologic disease No clinically significant disease/dysfunction of the cardiovascular (NYHA Classification Class II-IV), neurologic (cerebral), pulmonary, endocrine, gastrointestinal, or genitourinary systems, which in the opinion of the investigator would put the subject at increased risk for a thrombovascular event, compromise the subject's ability to respond to r-HuEPO therapy, or otherwise impair their ability to participate in this study No history of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE) No subjects who are to receive perioperative pharmacologic anticoagulation (e.g., coumadin, heparin, lovenox, aspirin/ASA) No subjects prohibited from receiving blood transfusions