Treating Anemia caused by Kidney Disease

Anemia is a deficiency of red blood cells (RBCs), which contain hemoglobin, the protein that carries oxygen throughout the body. If your body's tissues receive less oxygen, this can lead to fatigue (excessive tiredness) and weakness. Normal red blood cell production requires erythropoietin (a hormone produced in the kidneys) and an adequate supply of iron.

The kidneys of people with renal disease inadequately produce erythropoietin, and thus they often develop anemia. Blood transfusions are used to treat severe anemia.

Your doctor may choose another treatment option - a medication that helps build red blood cells. If you think your extreme tiredness might be due to anemia, read more and take the Brief Fatigue Inventory test (in the article “Could I Have Anemia?”). Then talk to your doctor about the results. Anemia can be treated!