Why are patients with chronic kidney disease often anemic?

This is an automatically translated article.

The article is professionally consulted by Master, Doctor Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy - Endocrinologist - Dialysis - Kidney Transplant - Department of Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Central Park International General Hospital. The doctor has more than 15 years of experience in the diagnosis and treatment of medical kidney disease, hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, pre-transplant screening and post-transplant follow-up.
Patients with chronic renal failure, especially in the end stage, are anemic. This is also one of the factors that make the condition worse.

1. Why is chronic kidney failure anemia?

There are many causes of anemia in patients with chronic kidney failure, including:
Decreased red blood cell production: Patients with end stage chronic kidney failure will have severe kidney damage, the kidneys are not able to produce erythropoietin hormone - hormone that stimulates the bone marrow to produce red blood cells, making it difficult for the formation and development of red blood cells, leading to anemia. Blood loss due to hemodialysis: hemodialysis also causes patients to lose blood because blood is lost during circulation outside the body, through the duct system. The process of dialysis for a long time causes the patient to lose a significant amount of blood, causing anemia. Poor diet, not enough nutrients: people with chronic kidney failure must abstain from high-protein foods, have a very low-protein diet, so the formation of protein in the body is minimized, but a large amount of protein is excreted. out through the urine. Besides, the patient is tired, so he has anorexia, does not eat well, the intestines absorb food poorly, so the body is not provided with adequate nutrients, especially blood-forming substances such as protein, iron, folic acid. . For a long time, the patient becomes anemic.

The rate of destruction of red blood cells increases: in patients with chronic glomerulonephritis, the waste products excreted by the body's metabolism are less, and the blood concentration increases. These waste products accelerate the destruction of red blood cells, causing red blood cells to be destroyed quickly, causing anemia. Chronic blood loss, seepage through the gastrointestinal tract.

2. Symptoms of anemia in patients with chronic kidney failure

Patients with chronic kidney failure with anemia will have symptoms such as:
Fatigue, headache, dizziness, lightheadedness, especially when changing positions suddenly Pale skin, weak body Difficulty concentrating at work Shortness of breath, chest tightness Irregular heartbeat Heart failure... When seeing the above abnormal signs, the patient should go to the hospital to check, perform blood tests, red blood cell count test, concentration test iron in the blood, measure hemoglobin to determine exactly if you have anemia or not?

3. Effects of anemia in patients with chronic renal failure

Anemia condition makes patients feel tired, weak health, people have no vitality, poor stamina... If the body is sick, the symptoms of the disease will be more severe. If not treated early, anemia can lead to cardiovascular complications, even heart failure and stroke, causing death.

4. What to do when anemia due to chronic glomerulonephritis

Patients with chronic glomerulonephritis with anemia need to follow the doctor's instructions, coordinate with the prescribed treatment method and use the right medicine and in the right dose.
Patients need to pay attention to their diet, increase blood-tonic foods, increase blood-forming nutrients.

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