title: Anemia after renal transplantation.
abstract: Anemia in the setting of chronic kidney disease is a well-recognized phenomenon that is associated with decreasing renal function and deficiency of or resistance to erythropoietin. However, anemia in the post-renal transplantation setting has received comparatively less attention in the literature. In this review, we aim critically to appraise the available literature regarding posttransplantation anemia, concentrating in particular on the prevalence of posttransplantation anemia, its etiopathogenesis, potential effects on morbidity and mortality, and the rationale for intervention and treatment. Despite deficiencies in the literature, we conclude that posttransplantation anemia is a common phenomenon that can occur either early or late posttransplantation, and its causation is usually multifactorial and includes contributions notably from poor or decreasing renal function, immunosuppression, and iron deficiency. Conversely, there is a shortage of well-conducted prospective studies looking at the morbidity attributable to posttransplantation anemia and a lack of trial evidence to determine whether intervention improves patient morbidity and outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology and Transplantation, Guy's Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: Behdad
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Afzali
authors.forename: Salam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Al-Khoury
authors.forename: Nilesh
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: Ashraf
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mikhail
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Covic
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Goldsmith
mesh_terms: D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology; D004920:Erythropoiesis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000601:surgery; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015995:Prevalence; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C103998:epoetin beta; D004921:Erythropoietin