Use of recombinant human erythropoietin to facilitate liver transplantation in a Jehovah's Witness.

A 46-yr-old woman with rapidly progressing primary biliary cirrhosis presented for liver transplantation. The use of preoperative recombinant human erythropoietin enabled this to be achieved without prohibited blood products. Perioperative management of this patient and general principles of management of Jehovah's Witnesses undergoing major surgery are discussed.