Anemia from Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) Treatment.

MEDICAL ANIMATION TRANSCRIPT: You or someone you care about may have been diagnosed with anemia as a result of chronic kidney disease or CKD. This video will help you understand some of the available treatment options for CKD anemia. Anemia means your blood does not have enough healthy red blood cells to deliver oxygen to the body. Anemia can result from chronic kidney disease. Normally, the kidneys make a hormone called erythropoietin. This hormone helps bone marrow make new red blood cells. When the kidneys are damaged, they don't make enough of this hormone. As a result, bone marrow doesn't make enough red blood cells causing CKD anemia. This means that organs and tissues may not work as well as they should. Treatment options for CKD anemia may include one or more of the following: an erythropoietin stimulating agent, iron, and a blood transfusion. An erythropoietin stimulating agent or ESA helps your bone marrow make new red blood cells. Another treatment option is iron. Your doctor may prescribe oral iron. This means pills taken by mouth. Or you may receive intravenous iron therapy. In this procedure, iron is delivered through an IV to increase the amount of iron in your blood. For severe anemia, you may need a blood transfusion. This means you will be given red blood cells and iron through an IV. It will quickly increase the amount of these substances in your blood. If you have questions about treatments for CKD anemia, or any medications you have been prescribed, talk to your doctor. It is important to take your medications as directed and report any side effects you have.