The study is designed as a prospective, double-blind, randomised controlled trial with participating departments located at German University Medical Centers. The trial has two parallel arms, one with an injection of 33?000?IU human recombinant EPO per day for 3 consecutive days, and the other with placebo administered in an equal fashion. In both arms, patients will receive 1000?mg of methylprednisolone intravenously per day for 3?days according to the standard of care.