Methods of treating anemic disorders in human subjects comprising administering a VEGF antagonist comprising a fusion polypeptide having an immunoglobulin-like (Ig) domain 2 of the VEGF receptor Flt1 and Ig domain 3 of the VEGF receptor Flk1 or Flt4, and a multimerizing component. Further included are methods of preventing anemia, increasing hematocrit levels, and increasing or stimulating erythropoietin, particularly in subjects being treated for cancer with chemotherapeutic agents and/or radiation.