Anemia as a risk factor for chronic kidney disease

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an important and leading cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and moreover, plays a role in the morbidity and mortality due to cardiovascular disease, infection, and cancer. Anemia develops during the early stages of CKD and is common in patients with ESRD. Anemia is an important cause of left ventricular hypertrophy and congestive heart failure. Correction of anemia by erthyropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA) has been shown to improve survival in patients with congestive heart failure. Anemia is counted as one of the non-conventional risk factors associated with CKD. Hypoxia is one of the common mechanisms of CKD progression. Treatment by ESA is expected to improve quality of life, survival, and prevent the CKD progression. Several clinical studies have shown the beneficial effects of anemia correction on renal outcomes. However, recent prospective trials both in ESRD and in CKD stages 3 and 4 failed to confirm the beneficial effects of correcting anemia on survival. Similarly, treatment of other risk factors such as hyperlipidemia by statin showed no improvement in the survival of dialysis patients. Given the high prevalence of anemia in ESRD and untoward effects of anemia in CKD stages 3 and 4, appropriate and timely intervention on renal anemia using ESA is required for practicing nephrologists and others involved in the care of high-risk population. Lessons from the recent studies are to correct renal anemia (hemoglobin <10 g/dl not hemoglobin > or =13 g/dl). Early intervention for renal anemia is a part of the treatment option in the prevention clinic. In this study, clinical significance of anemia management in patients with CKD is discussed.