Watch Out For Renal Anemia in Kidney Disease
In addition to edema and Hypertension, Renal Anemia is another one of the
complications aroused by Chronic Kidney Disease.
Renal Anemia refers to the lack of erythropoietin caused by various reasons
or the disturbance to red blood cells by certain toxins in uremia plasma. It is
very common among people who have Chronic Kidney Disease especially End Stage
Kidney Disease. The degree of Renal Anemia is related to that of renal
insufficiency.
Then, what causes Renal Anemia?
◆ Decreased erythropoietin. Due to the damages to renal function, the amount
of erythropoietin which kidney excretes decreases, affecting the formation of
bone marrow and the maturation of red blood cells. This is the main cause of
Renal Anemia.
◆ Malnutrition. Since the intake of protein should be limited in the daily
diet of CKD sufferers and there are more protein excreted along with urine, the
concentration of plasma protein decreases. Protein is the main material in
producing blood, so the lack of protein leads to Renal Anemia.
◆ Bleeding. Chronic Kidney Disease(CKD) sufferers especially those who are in
the end stage of Renal Failure often have tendency of bleeding, such as
nosebleed and gum bleeding. There is obstruction in the absorption of Ferrum in
gastrointestinal tract, so Renal Anemia appears.
◆ Toxins. Kidneys have the ability of secretion and excretion, and all the
wastes and toxins can be expelled along with urine. They can also secrete
erythropoietin. When kidneys are damaged to some degree, the wastes and toxins
cannot be expelled normally. Those wastes and toxins will impede the formation
and metabolism of red blood cells, resulting in Renal Failure consequently.
◆ Uremia. In the period of Uremia, large amounts of wastes accumulating in
blood, so they impair red blood cells and cut short the cells’ life span;
meanwhile, Ferrum lost seriously during this period, so that red blood cells
cannot be formed adequately, for Ferrum is the most significant factor in the
formation of red blood cells.
Generally speaking, Renal Anemia will appear when renal functions are
impaired especially when the index of serum creatinine is higher than 308μmol/L
(3.5mg/dl). It is thecomplication of Chronic Kidney Disease. Regular and
effective treatment is necessary in relieving Renal Anemia, and Renal Anemia
should also be treated from the root of kidney disease just like edema and
Hypertension. Once the kidney disease is well-controlled or well-treated, Renal
Anemia will disappear gradually therewith.
