SouthEast Kidney Associates means provides you not only the medical treatment you need but also ensures you are provided with information to help you and your family understand your health, make informed decisions, and get answers to your questions as soon as possible.

For this, we have created an online Patient Education Center. We know your questions do not come up only during our office hours, therefore SKA physicians have developed a comprehensive library of information to provide you and your family more information on the most common kidney disease-related topics when you want it.

SKA Blogs written by SKI physicians are also available.

Erythropoietin (EPO) is a hormone made by kidneys which in-turn, makes blood. Patients can have low red blood cell count called anemia, when kidneys are not working at their fullest.

EPO requires iron to make blood. We generally get iron from a healthy diet. Sometimes, kidney patients need extra iron supplementation, either as pills or intravenously (IV).

Red blood cells carry oxygen to tissues. Your tissues and organs, particularly the heart and brain, may not do their jobs as well as they should, without oxygen. Anemia prevents many people with kidney disease from feeling their best. Correct and timely treatments will help patients feel better, live longer, and have more energy.

Laboratory tests

Laboratory test – complete blood count (CBC) is performed on a sample of blood. It measures the amount of hemoglobin (Hgb) in the blood which is the component of red blood cells that carry oxygen.

When anemia begins

Anemia may begin to progress in the early stages of kidney disease when you still have 20 to 50 percent of your normal kidney function. As kidney disease progresses, anemia tends to worsen.

Diagnosis

You are considered anemic, if you have a Hgb of 11 or less, with the most likely cause being decreased EPO production. It is essential to be evaluated by a physician and test for iron deficiency and blood loss in the stool to be certain there are no other reasons for the anemia.

Treatment

Your SKA physician will recommend one of more of the following treatments, if you are anemic:

• Eating a healthy, iron-rich meal
• Checking and replacing iron either by pills or IV as decided by your nephrologist
• Giving EP under the skin or in the veins as decided by your nephrologist