Indicated for acute or severe episodes of anemia

No indication for chronic anemia

No indication for acute or chronic anemia

Potential adjunctive therapy during shortages of blood products

Indicated for chronic anemia related to kidney disease

No indication for SCD

No specific indication for anemia, but approval for SCD was based on increasing Hb level

Requires parenteral access

Requires blood banking support to find safe and compatible blood

Risk of alloimmunization, hemolytic transfusion reactions, and iron overload

Requires monitoring for myelosuppression

Possible risk of teratogenesis and leukemogenesis (evidence limited)

Not tolerated by or ineffective in some patients

Requires subcutaneous injection

Evidence in SCD is limited

Possible risk of viscosity-related and vaso-occlusive complications (evidence limited)

Poor compliance with injections

Requires access to new SCD therapies and insurance coverage (availability limited in low-resource settings)

Possible risk of increasing Hb oxygen affinity causing tissue hypoxia

Limited postmarketing data and clinical experience, especially when used in combination with other available therapies