WHY WOULD ANEMIA CAUSE PROGRESSION OF CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE?
Anemia in CKD could accelerate progression of kidney disease by at least two mechanisms: (1) renal tissue hypoxia; and (2) cardiac failure Figure 1. These mechanisms are not mutually exclusive, thus both could contribute to progression of renal disease. Even if renal blood flow to the kidney is normal, relative tissue hypoxia could worsen renal structure and function, leading to renal fibrosis, decline in glomerular filtration rate, and further worsening of anemia.
