Mortality Rate Increases for Kidney Recipients with Anemia
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According to a new study in American Journal of Transplantation, kidney transplant patients suffering from anemia, a treatable blood deficiency, are more likely to die or suffer from organ failure than other transplant recipients.
“During a four year period following kidney transplantation, we found that anemic patients were 70 percent more likely to die following their transplant, and two and a half times more likely to again require dialysis,” says study author Dr. Istvan Mucsi.
Anemia affects a large number of transplant recipients. “Between 15,000 and 20,000 transplant patients in the U.S. are likely to have severe enough anemia to be treated for it, but it is likely that only a fraction of patients actually receive treatment,” says Dr. Mucsi.
It is currently unknown if treating anemia in kidney transplanted patients would improve patient survival; further research is needed. “In the interim, we believe it is prudent to focus more on the diagnosis of post-transplant anemia and also to apply appropriate guidelines that are available for its treatment in chronic kidney disease patients not yet requiring dialysis,” says Dr. Mucsi.
The research and viewpoints expressed in the article are those of the author and do not reflect the opinions of the journal or the affiliated societies.
This study is published in American Journal of Transplantation. Media wishing to receive a PDF of this article may contact .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
Dr. Istvan Mucsi is a clinician scientist and associate professor of medicine at Semmelweis University in Budapest. He is also a visiting nephrology professor at the University of Toronto. He can be reached for questions at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
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