Treatment and costs associated with anemic chronic kidney disease patients.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the current therapeutic options afforded to anemic chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients and the costs of these interventions.


METHODS
Literature search of articles within Ovid MEDLINE between 1996 and 2007 that pertained to the treatment of anemia in chronic kidney disease patients.


RESULTS
Early detection and treatment of anemia associated with CKD has proven to provide positive cognitive and physical effects. Treatment options that increase iron storage and availability within the body and production of erythropoietin can assist in anemic CKD patients in achieving recommended levels of hemoglobin. Acknowledgement of the potential side effects associated with the medications selected to treat anemia can help in avoiding additional injury to the patient and thus reduce healthcare expenditure. A limitation of this review is that the search was performed within a single database.


CONCLUSIONS
Health care providers can play an active role in detecting anemia early and optimizing available treatment options. Future research on the effects of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESA) on patients before they need dialysis, and a cost analysis between epoetin and darbepoetin alpha, would be beneficial.
Rasu
Rafia S
RS
School of Pharmacy, University of Missouri Kansas City, Kansas City, MO 64106, USA. rasur@umkc.edu
Crawford
Tonya
T
Manley
Harold
H
Balkrishnan
Rajesh
R
D000740:Anemia / Q000191:economics* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D000068256:Darbepoetin alfa; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D000068817:Epoetin Alfa; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006397:Hematinics / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D051436:Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy*
D006397:Hematinics; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin; D000068256:Darbepoetin alfa; D000068817:Epoetin Alfa; D007501:Iron