Do you check EPO levels in patients with anemia of chronic kidney disease?
Community PollStarted
Is there value in checking an EPO level in patients with anemia of chronic kidney disease?
16 physicians have voted
Join Mednetto vote and see how they answered.
2 Answers
Mednet MemberInvited Expert
Nephrology · IU Health
Answered on
No, I never check EPO levels in patients with anemia of CKD since they're uninterpretable. Patients with CKD have inadequate EPO synthesis for their degree of anemia, so their EPO levels may be greater than normal yet still not sufficient to correct the anemia. We now understand the role of inflamma...
Join for free or sign in to see the full answer
Mednet MemberInvited Expert
Nephrology · Rush Medical College
Answered on
Never.
Anemia in CKD is as much resistance from a uremic bone marrow than EPO deficiency. We give pharmacologic doses, not replacement doses, to overcome this uremic resistance.
Join for free or sign in to see the full answer