Abstract : Since the discovery that EPO and its receptor are expressed in various tissues, numerous studies have demonstrated that EPO is not only involved in erythropoiesis but also exerts pleiotropic effects on cells. Among these, one of the most exciting is its role in the prevention of ischemic-reperfusion lesions such as after acute ischemic injury of the brain or the heart. However, most of these studies were carried out in animal models and no definitive proof exists today to demonstrate that EPO has similar beneficial effects in human pathology. Kidney transplantation is one ischemic situation where EPO pleiotropic effects could be of great interest since ischemic-reperfusion lesions have been involved in delayed graft function and impaired graft outcomes.