title: The mortality risk associated with higher hemoglobin: is the therapy to blame?
abstract: Recent trials have demonstrated a trend for increased mortality when patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) or chronic kidney disease (CKD) are treated with erythropoietin-stimulating agents (ESAs) to hemoglobin levels higher than recommended (>13 g/dl). Recent studies suggest that higher doses of ESAs, in themselves, may be at least partly responsible for this mortality risk. This is important, as more than 90% of patients with ESRD and approximately 20% of patients with CKD receive ESAs. Two new studies address this.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA.
authors.forename: Mitchell H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Rosner
authors.forename: W Kline
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Bolton