PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: 60-100% Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: No known or suspected red blood cell disorder (e.g., hereditary spherocytosis, paroxysmal nocturnal hematuria, sickle cell trait, autoimmune hemolytic disorder) Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL No severe liver dysfunction, particularly, no impaired hepatic synthetic functions as evidenced by prolonged prothrombin time or otherwise unexplained serum albumin less than 3 g/dL Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL Cardiovascular: No evidence of congestive heart failure No clinically significant cardiac arrhythmia No prior or concurrent symptoms of acute coronary artery disease No significant cardiac valve disease (e.g., aortic stenosis, valve prosthesis) Pulmonary: No prior asthma during adulthood that required therapy Other: No prior seizures or drug related anaphylactic reactions No history of microangiopathy (e.g., cavenous hemangioma, prior thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura)