Final answer:
Epoetin alfa, a synthetic erythropoietin, stimulates red blood cell production, with hypertension being a known adverse effect due to increased blood viscosity.
Step-by-step explanation:
Epoetin alfa is a synthetic form of erythropoietin (EPO), which is a glycoprotein hormone that stimulates the bone marrow to increase the production of red blood cells (RBCs). This is particularly useful in treating anemia associated with renal failure or cancer treatment. However, an adverse effect of using epoetin alfa is an increase in blood pressure, or hypertension. This occurs because the increased RBC count can lead to an increased viscosity of the blood, which can raise the resistance against which the heart must pump, thus leading to higher blood pressure.