Which treatment is commonly used to manage anemia in a patient with end-stage renal disease?

Which treatment is commonly used to manage anemia in a patient with end-stage renal disease?

• A. Subcutaneous erythropoietin injections
• B. Vitamin K injections
• C. Daily iron tablets
• D. Blood transfusions only

Answer: (A)

Anemia in end-stage renal disease mainly happens because damaged kidneys don’t produce enough erythropoietin, the hormone that signals the bone marrow to make red blood cells. Replacing that signal with an erythropoiesis-stimulating agent is the standard approach, with injections given subcutaneously or intravenously. This treatment raises the production of red blood cells, improves hemoglobin levels, and helps lessen fatigue and shortness of breath. In practice, it’s paired with ensuring adequate iron stores, because building new red cells requires iron. Transfusions are reserved for emergencies or ESA-resistant cases, and unnecessary iron or other injections don’t address the hormone deficiency. Vitamin K injections don’t help with this type of anemia. So, subcutaneous erythropoietin injections are the commonly used therapy.

Anemia in end-stage renal disease mainly happens because damaged kidneys don’t produce enough erythropoietin, the hormone that signals the bone marrow to make red blood cells. Replacing that signal with an erythropoiesis-stimulating agent is the standard approach, with injections given subcutaneously or intravenously. This treatment raises the production of red blood cells, improves hemoglobin levels, and helps lessen fatigue and shortness of breath. In practice, it’s paired with ensuring adequate iron stores, because building new red cells requires iron. Transfusions are reserved for emergencies or ESA-resistant cases, and unnecessary iron or other injections don’t address the hormone deficiency. Vitamin K injections don’t help with this type of anemia. So, subcutaneous erythropoietin injections are the commonly used therapy.