ABSTRACT
Anemia is a common complication of chronic kidney disease (CKD) of any cause. (Besarab and Levin, 2000). A study published in 2004 showed that 28% of Americans with mild CKD (stages 1-3) have anemia, and 87% of those with severe CKD (stages 4 and 5) have anemia (Guralnik et al., 2004). If anemia remains untreated, patients may experience a variety of complications. Published literature reveals that pre-dialysis CKD patients with anemia have an increased risk of morbidity and mortality related to cardiac disease and stroke (Levin, 2003). Because of the long-term effects of untreated anemia, it is important to be able to identify and treat patients appropriately with this potentially serious complication of CKD.
