Definition:

Renal anemia is one of the most frequent complications of chronic kidney disease. Anemia leads to a decrease in oxygen delivery to vital organs, which is initially compensated for by tachycardia and cardiac hypertrophy, but eventually leads to the development of cardiovascular disease. Renal anemia is caused by the deficiency of endogenous erythropoietin (EPO) due to renal dysfunction. EPO is a glycoprotein hormone that has the role of the primary regulator of erythropoiesis. Formerly, treatment options were essentially limited to blood transfusions and androgen therapy, with its risks. However, since the late 1980s, the availability of recombinant human erythropoietin has revolutionized the management of renal anemia, and erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) are now the mostly widely used drugs.