Anemia of chronic renal failure

• Anemia of chronic renal failure is normocytic normochromic, hypoproliferative anemia
• The level of anemia correlates with the severity of underlying renal failure
• The anemia is primarily due to a failure to produce adequate level of Erythropoetin and a reduction in red cell survival.
• Patients usually present with normal serum iron, TIBC & ferritin levels
• Erythropetin therapy is the mainstay of treatmentto improves anemia symptoms
• Dialysis typically has little effect with regard to correcting the anemia.
• Peritoneal dialysis (ambulatory) usually improves anemia while hemodialysis may cause an associated iron deficiency anemia
• Iron deficiency anemia may however be seen in some patients with CRF who are maintained on chronic hemodialysis due to loss through the dialysis procedure.