What happens to the rate of RBC production in a patient on dialysis with total renal failure?

Question

And what could be given to the patient to counteract such a problem?

Answer 1

Like was mentioned before, erythropoietin is no longer produce when the kidneys fail. The medication of choice is Epogen, commonly called "EPO" (you'll remember that Lance Armstong took it when he had cancer, which he needed, but others said he was cheating). EPO is extremely expensive, but for dialysis patients, Medicaid pays for it (roughly $1500/month/person, ouch!). It is also common for dialysis patients to need iron, like in Venofer, to contribute to RBC production.

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

Erythropoietin is made in the kidneys. When they're dead, the patient is routinely anemic, and recombinant technology has now allowed exogenous sources of erythropoietin to be prescribed.