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Updated: Aug 16, 2026

Assessment of Vascular Function in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease
Published on: June 16, 2014
[Anemia in chronic renal insufficiency]
Anemia is the most common hematologic disturbance of patients with chronic renal failure. It is usually normocytic, normochromic and the bone marrow does not show erythroblastic compensatory changes. The anemia is the resultant of different factors; inadequate erythropoiesis, hemolysis and bleeding, being the former the most important mechanism. The important role of the erythropoietin and its mechanism of production are discussed. Patients in intermittent peritoneal dialysis program show higher hemoglobin concentration than patients in chronic hemodialysis. The authors mention the therapeutic approach used to minimize the anemia emphasizing the need of reducing the number of blood transfusions (unless absolutely necessary), since they inhibit erythropoiesis.
Anemia is the most common hematologic disturbance of patients with chronic renal failure. It is usually normocytic, normochromic and the bone marrow does not show erythroblastic compensatory changes. The anemia is the resultant of different factors; inadequate erythropoiesis, hemolysis and bleeding, being the former the most important mechanism. The important role of the erythropoietin and its mechanism of production are discussed. Patients in intermittent peritoneal dialysis program show higher hemoglobin concentration than patients in chronic hemodialysis. The authors mention the therapeutic approach used to minimize the anemia emphasizing the need of reducing the number of blood transfusions (unless absolutely necessary), since they inhibit erythropoiesis.
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