Iron Therapy in Renal Anaemia

Anaemia is a nearly ubiquitous complication of chronic kidney disease, which has a number of implications for the patient. It is associated with adverse outcomes, an increased rate of red cell transfusions, poor quality of life and reduced physical capacity. This textbook describes the current knowledge on normal iron homeostasis and the evaluation of iron metabolism using the most modern techniques and approaches. Central parts of the book are devoted to the assessment of iron status in chronic kidney disease, the role of hepcidin and its relation to iron homeostasis, iron overload in renal patients and the problem of EPO hyporesponsiveness. All aspects of oral and intravenous iron preparations are illuminated in the treatment chapters and relevant trials of anaemia treatment are discussed.