Anaemia and chronic kidney disease

Anaemia is a common complication of chronic kidney disease. The most important contributory factor is an abnormally low circulating concentration of erythropoietin, which is produced by the kidney peritubular cells. Anaemia of kidney disease is likely to develop once the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is <60 ml/minute/1.73 m2, and is most evident at lower levels of renal function (estimated GFR <30 ml/minute/1.73 m2). Anaemic patients with a lesser degree of renal function should be screened for other causes.