The role of anaemia in the genesis of cardiac abnormalities in patients with chronic kidney disease.

The relationship of anaemia to the pathogenesis of cardiac abnormalities in patients with kidney disease has been the focus of much clinical and basic science research over the past two decades. There is extensive data to support the important contribution of anaemia to multiple morbidities in patients with kidney disease, not only cardiovascular disease (CVD). Anaemia impacts cognitive function, quality of life, exercise capacity, and sexual function in patients with kidney disease, and has been clearly linked to mortality in dialysis populations. Since the advent and availability of effective treatments for anaemia, there has been enormous interest in further understanding the role of anaemia in various pathophysiological processes. The focus of this article is to detail the current state of knowledge with respect to anaemia and CVD and to identify areas of potential future research. Anaemia and chronic kidney disease