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Australian Prescriber Vol. 32 No. 5 2009

Anaemia in kidney disease

Red blood cells are made in bone marrow. This process needs iron and a hormone called erythropoietin. As erythropoietin is made in the kidneys, people with kidney disease do not make enough. This causes anaemia.

People with kidney disease can get anaemia from other causes. It is therefore important to make sure they do not have one of these other causes, such as bleeding into the gut.

The anaemia of kidney disease is usually treated first with iron tablets. Some patients will need iron to be given by intravenous drip.

If iron does not work the patient can be treated with an artificial erythropoietin. This is given by injections. Patients with kidney disease usually feel better after this treatment.