Skip to main navigation Skip to main content Skip to footer For Medicare For Providers For Brokers For Employers Español For Individuals & Families: For Individuals & Families Medical Dental Other Supplemental Explore coverage through work How to Buy Health Insurance Types of Dental Insurance Open Enrollment vs. Special Enrollment See all topics Shop for Medicare plans Member Guide Find a Doctor Log in to myCigna
Home Knowledge Center Wellness Library Anemia of Chronic Kidney Disease

Anemia of Chronic Kidney Disease

Conditions Basics

What is anemia of chronic kidney disease?

Anemia of chronic kidney disease means that kidney disease has caused your anemia. Your doctor will have ruled out other causes of anemia.

Anemia means that you do not have enough red blood cells. Red blood cells carry oxygen from your lungs to your body's tissues. If your tissues and organs do not get enough oxygen, they cannot work as well as they should.

Anemia is common in people who have chronic kidney disease. It can make you feel weak and tired. With treatment, you may feel better and enjoy life more.

What causes it?

Red blood cells are made by the bone marrow. To get the marrow to make red blood cells, the kidneys make a hormone called erythropoietin, or EPO. When the kidneys are damaged, they may not make enough EPO. Without enough EPO, the bone marrow does not make enough red blood cells, and you have anemia.

In most cases, the more damaged the kidneys are, the more severe the anemia is. In general, people whose kidneys are not working at the normal level may get anemia.

What are the symptoms?

Anemia may develop early in kidney disease, but you may not have symptoms until the late stages of the disease.

As anemia gets worse, you may:

  • Feel weak and tire out more easily.
  • Feel dizzy.
  • Be irritable.
  • Have headaches.
  • Look very pale.
  • Feel short of breath.
  • Have trouble concentrating.

How is it diagnosed?

Your doctor can decide if you have anemia of chronic kidney disease when you have both anemia and chronic kidney disease and there is no other reason for anemia.

Your doctor will do blood tests, including a complete blood count (CBC), to learn about your red blood cells and possible reasons for your anemia.

How is anemia of chronic kidney disease treated?

The two main treatments for anemia in kidney disease are iron and erythropoietin-stimulating agent (ESA).

  • To build the iron levels in your body, you may need to take iron pills or get iron through an injection into a vein (I.V.).
  • If tests suggest that your kidneys are not making enough erythropoietin (EPO), you may need a man-made form of this hormone called an ESA. This medicine is most often given as a shot under the skin (subcutaneous).

Both treatments can be given through an I.V. during dialysis.

Other possible treatments include:

  • Diet changes. Ask your doctor if eating more foods high in iron, folic acid, and vitamin B12 could help your anemia. But don't make changes to your diet until you talk to your doctor first.
  • In rare cases, a blood transfusion. A blood transfusion gives you new blood or parts of blood you need, such as red blood cells. But this is done only if your anemia is severe.

Current as of: October 11, 2023

Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff

Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.

This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Ignite Healthwise, LLC, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Learn how we develop our content.

© 2024 Ignite Healthwise, LLC. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Ignite Healthwise, LLC.

Related Links

Chronic Kidney Disease Complete Blood Count (CBC)

<cipublic-spinner variant="large"><span>Loading…</span></cipublic-spinner>

Page Footer

I want to...

Get an ID card File a claim View my claims and EOBs Check coverage under my plan See prescription drug list Find an in-network doctor, dentist, or facility Find a form Find 1095-B tax form information View the Cigna Glossary Contact Cigna

Audiences

Individuals and Families Medicare Employers Brokers Providers

Secure Member Sites

myCigna member portal Health Care Provider portal Cigna for Employers Client Resource Portal Cigna for Brokers

The Cigna Group Information

About Cigna Healthcare Company Profile Careers Newsroom Investors Suppliers The Cigna Group Third Party Administrators International Evernorth

 Cigna. All rights reserved.

Privacy Legal Product Disclosures Cigna Company Names Customer Rights Accessibility Non-Discrimination Notice Language Assistance [PDF] Report Fraud Sitemap Cookie Settings

Disclaimer

Individual and family medical and dental insurance plans are insured by Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company (CHLIC), Cigna HealthCare of Arizona, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of Illinois, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of Georgia, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of North Carolina, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of South Carolina, Inc., and Cigna HealthCare of Texas, Inc. Group health insurance and health benefit plans are insured or administered by CHLIC, Connecticut General Life Insurance Company (CGLIC), or their affiliates (see a listing of the legal entities that insure or administer group HMO, dental HMO, and other products or services in your state). Accidental Injury, Critical Illness, and Hospital Care plans or insurance policies are distributed exclusively by or through operating subsidiaries of Cigna Corporation, are administered by Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company, and are insured by either (i) Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company (Bloomfield, CT); (ii) Life Insurance Company of North America (“LINA”) (Philadelphia, PA); or (iii) New York Life Group Insurance Company of NY (“NYLGICNY”) (New York, NY), formerly known as Cigna Life Insurance Company of New York. The Cigna name, logo, and other Cigna marks are owned by Cigna Intellectual Property, Inc. LINA and NYLGICNY are not affiliates of Cigna.

All insurance policies and group benefit plans contain exclusions and limitations. For availability, costs and complete details of coverage, contact a licensed agent or Cigna sales representative. This website is not intended for residents of New Mexico.

Selecting these links will take you away from Cigna.com to another website, which may be a non-Cigna website. Cigna may not control the content or links of non-Cigna websites. Details