Anemia in Kidney Disease and Dialysis
Anemia in Kidney Disease and Dialysis
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What is anemia?
A
person whose blood is low in red blood cells has anemia. Red blood cells carry oxygen (O2) to tissues and organs throughout the body and enable them to use the energy from food. Without oxygen, these tissues and organs—particularly the heart and brain—may not do their jobs as well as they should. For this reason, a person who has anemia may tire easily and look pale. Anemia may also contribute to heart problems.
Anemia is common in people with kidney disease. Healthy kidneys produce a hormone called erythropoietin, or EPO, which stimulates the bone marrow to produce the proper number of red blood cells needed to carry oxygen to vital organs. Diseased kidneys, however, often don’t make enough EPO. As a result, the bone marrow makes fewer red blood cells. Other common causes of anemia include blood loss from hemodialysis and low levels of iron and folic acid. These nutrients from food help young red blood cells make hemoglobin, their main oxygencarrying protein.
Healthy kidneys produce a hormone called erythropoietin, or EPO, which stimulates the bone marrow to make red blood cells needed to carry oxygen throughout the body. Diseased kidneys don’t make enough EPO, and bone marrow then makes fewer red blood cells.
Healthy kidney � Normal EPO
Normal oxygen
Normal red blood cells
Diseased kidney Reduced EPO
Reduced oxygen
Reduced red blood cells
U.S. Department of Health
� and Human Services
�
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH
National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse
What are the laboratory tests for anemia?
A complete blood count (CBC), a laboratory test performed on a sample of blood, includes a determination of a person’s hematocrit, the percentage of the blood that consists of red blood cells. The CBC also measures the amount of hemoglobin in the blood. The range of normal hematocrit and hemoglobin in women who have a period is slightly lower
�
What is anemia?
A
person whose blood is low in red blood cells has anemia. Red blood cells carry oxygen (O2) to tissues and organs throughout the body and enable them to use the energy from food. Without oxygen, these tissues and organs—particularly the heart and brain—may not do their jobs as well as they should. For this reason, a person who has anemia may tire easily and look pale. Anemia may also contribute to heart problems.
Anemia is common in people with kidney disease. Healthy kidneys produce a hormone called erythropoietin, or EPO, which stimulates the bone marrow to produce the proper number of red blood cells needed to carry oxygen to vital organs. Diseased kidneys, however, often don’t make enough EPO. As a result, the bone marrow makes fewer red blood cells. Other common causes of anemia include blood loss from hemodialysis and low levels of iron and folic acid. These nutrients from food help young red blood cells make hemoglobin, their main oxygencarrying protein.
Healthy kidneys produce a hormone called erythropoietin, or EPO, which stimulates the bone marrow to make red blood cells needed to carry oxygen throughout the body. Diseased kidneys don’t make enough EPO, and bone marrow then makes fewer red blood cells.
Healthy kidney � Normal EPO
Normal oxygen
Normal red blood cells
Diseased kidney Reduced EPO
Reduced oxygen
Reduced red blood cells
U.S. Department of Health
� and Human Services
�
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH
National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse
What are the laboratory tests for anemia?
A complete blood count (CBC), a laboratory test performed on a sample of blood, includes a determination of a person’s hematocrit, the percentage of the blood that consists of red blood cells. The CBC also measures the amount of hemoglobin in the blood. The range of normal hematocrit and hemoglobin in women who have a period is slightly lower