Causes of Anemia in End Stage Renal Failure (ESRF)
1. Declined erythrogenin
The healthy kidneys can produce erythrogenin which can promote the production
of marrow. However, in End Stage Renal Failure, the kidneys are damaged severely
and less erythrogenin is produced. Declined erythrogenin is the major cause of
anemia.
2. Haemorrhage
Many patients are usually companied by serious haemorrhage such as epistaxis,
gum bleeding and gastrointestinal bleeding.
3. Lack of iron
Iron is important raw materials in making blood. However, many patients
usually suffer from intestinal problems. Hence, they often experience poor
appetite, nausea, vomiting so the body can not get enough iron supply from
foods. Also, the intestinal tract can not fully absorb the iron from what they
eat.
4. Uremic toxins
In End Stage Renal Failure, a large amount of uremic toxins build up in blood
and they can restrain the hematopoiesis of the marrow and damage the healthy red
blood cells.
How to manage anemia in End Stage Renal Failure?
1. Usually, the patients are prescribed with EPO which can increase the
number of the red blood cells thus relieving anemia.
2. Blood transfusion is recommended to people with serious heart failure due
to anemia, cerebral massive haemorrhage, massive haemorrhage in digestive tract
etc.
3. Some patients need the supplement of vitamin B6, folic acid, iron etc to
increase the raw material of blood.
4. Dialysis can filter blood and discharge a part of wastes from body,
regulate electrolyte balance, thus extending the life expectancy of red blood
cells.
The above treatments can only treat anemia symptomatically, but can not
restore the impaired kidneys and recover their normal function. In order to
treat anemia in End Stage Renal Failure, the primary goal is to rebuild normal
kidney structure and regain normal renal function.