This study was terminated due to slow enrollment, despite protocol amendments to change the entrance criteria.

The purpose of this research study is to determine fatigue (tiredness) in subjects with chronic Rheumatoid Arthritis with chronic anemia. Fatigue in subjects who get PROCRIT will be compared to fatigue in subjects who get placebo (a medically inactive substance). The study will also evaluate hemoglobin levels (oxygen-carrying protein in red blood cells), safety, anemia related health concerns, vitality, arthritis related function and work productivity.

PROCRIT is not approved for the treatment of anemia of chronic disease in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Approximately 270 subjects will be participating in this trial, at approximately 25 centers in the United States. Patients will be eligible to participate in this study if hemoglobin (Hb) is <=11.0 g/dL. The hypothesis is that PROCRIT improves fatigue scores in rheumatoid arthritis patients with anemia of chronic disease. If a patient chooses to participate, he/she will be randomized to receive either PROCRIT or placebo on a weekly basis starting at 20,000 units per injection (up to a maximum of 40,000 units).

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients must have rheumatoid arthritis with chronic anemia. Patients must have signed an informed consent
• women must be postmenopausal for at least one year, surgically sterile, or practicing an effective method of birth control, or have a negative serum pregnancy test
• women must not be breast feeding during this study period.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Uncontrolled hypertension
• elective surgery, including joint replacement, anticipated to require transfusion during the extension study period
• thromboembolic event during the double-blind study including acute myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular accident and/or transient ischemic attack
• deep vein thrombosis and/or pulmonary embolism
• uncontrolled psychiatric disease
• planning to be enrolled in any other clinical trial during the course of this study