Renal anaemia: recent developments and future directions for improved management

Managing anaemia of chronic kidney disease

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a multi-faceted disease which has a number of associated complications. Anaemia is one of the most common complications that develops early in the course of the disease process. It is associated with increased mortality, increased hospitalization rates, and reduced quality of life. Low haemoglobin levels may increase risk for progression of CKD, cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. This article aims to address the importance of early recognition and management of anaemia in CKD, and the role of the health professional in this regard. Issues that will be discussed include causes, screening, guidelines, current research and recommended treatments of anaemia in CKD, along with recommendations for future practice in this pivotal area of renal care.