Anemia Following Renal Transplantation

Abstract

THE ANEMIA which commonly accompanies end stage renal disease usually remits within³ months following renal transplantation. However, a significant number of patients remain anemic or become anemic following trans- plantation. Factors that contribute to anemia in renal transplant recipients include episodes of acute rejection,¹,² delayed graft function,³ or impaired graft function related to chronic rejection.⁴ These conditions have been reported to be associated with inappropriately low erythropoietin (EPO) levels and therefore may be amenable to treatment with EPO.⁴ Iron deficiency has been implicated, particularly in patients whose iron stores were low pre-transplanta- tion.3,5 However this factor has not been believed to significantly contribute to anemia in renal transplant recip- ients in another study.6 Systemic illness, chronic infections, or drug toxicities in the post transplantation period may also contribute to anemia following successful renal trans- plantation. We investigated major etiologic factors for anemia following renal transplantation, and evaluated the EPO response to anemia in renal transplant recipients.