Why do I have anemia?

Anemia is a decrease in red blood cells. Red blood cells carry oxygen throughout the body and a decrease in red blood cells can result in fatigue, shortness of breath, depression, poor appetite and heart disease.

The kidneys make a hormone called erythropoietin which helps form red blood cells. With CKD there is a decrease in the production of this hormone and thus a decrease in red blood cells. The treatment for anemia related to CKD is injections with the man-made form of the hormone erythropoietin and with iron pills or iron infusions ( intravenous, IV iron).

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