 Secondary end-points are overall mortality, progression of coronary artery calcification, progression of carotid artery intima-media thickness, changes in post-dialysis body weight and upper mid-arm circumference, hematocrit and related rHu-EPO doses, changes in the levels of albumin, transferrin, total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, high sensitive CRP, and β-2 microglobulin. 