3. Anemia or RBC-transfusion dependence defined as follows: a) Anemia: defined for the purpose of this protocol as 1) a hemoglobin level <10 g/L on every determination over 84 days before study-entry, without RBC-transfusions, or 2) a hemoglobin level <10 g/L on a patient that is receiving RBC-transfusions periodically but not meeting criteria for transfusion-dependent patient as defined below. The baseline hemoglobin value for these subjects is the lowest hemoglobin level during the antecedent 84 days; b) RBC-transfusion-dependence: RBC-transfusion-frequency of >/=2 units PRBC/28 days averaged over 84 days immediately pre-study-entry. There must not be any consecutive 42 days without an RBC-transfusion during this interval.