Following up on our last article about the pitfalls of Anemia and CKD when they occur concomitantly, today we examine how Anemia impacts PKD. Specifically, patients with autosomal dominant Polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) are more prone to a faster progression of their chronic kidney disease when they also have anemia. The kidneys filter the blood, removing toxins and waste and allow them to be expelled in the urine. Chronic kidney disease occurs when one or both kidneys function are reduced or no longer working at all.

Patients with anemia have less than the normal amount of red blood cells. The red blood cells carry oxygen to tissues and organs and allow them to use energy from food. In patients with this
condition, the remaining red blood cells carry less oxygen to the organs, particularly the heart and brain and these organs do not function as well as a result.

Anemia commonly occurs in patients with chronic kidney disease and it might begin to develop in the early stages. When the kidneys become diseased or damaged, they do not make enough
erythropoietin (EPO). This is a hormone produced by the body to trigger or regulate particular body functions. Because of this, the bone marrow makes fewer blood cells.

Researchers looked at 115 patients. They found men with Hb concentrations below 12 g.dL and women with Hb concentrations below 11g.dL were more likely to be suffering from the progression of kidney disease. They said while Hb remains higher in patients with ADPKD, low Hb is associated with poor renal prognosis in ADPKD patients.