Your body needs iron to create hemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells that delivers oxygen to the body's cells and tissues, enabling organs to draw energy from food. Iron deficiency can cause low levels of healthy red blood cells and hemoglobin, a condition called iron deficiency anemia. People with kidney failure are especially vulnerable to anemia.
Kidney Failure and Anemia
Functioning kidneys produce erythropoietin, or EPO, a protein that plays a role in the bone marrow's production of the red blood cells necessary for oxygen transportation. Diseased kidneys do not produce enough EPO, leading to a depletion of red blood cells in the body. Dialysis treatments for kidney failure also put people at a greater risk for anemia because these treatments can cause low levels of iron and erythropoietin. Anemia can develop in the early stages of kidney disease and typically worsen with the disease's progression.
Symptoms
Iron deficiency anemia hinders your body's ability to draw energy from food, leaving you weak, tired and short of breath. Other symptoms of iron deficiency anemia include brittle nails, pail skin, irritability, headache, inflamed or sore tongue, difficulty maintaining body temperature and decreased immune function.
Treatment
Once your doctor diagnoses the cause of your anemia, she may prescribe iron supplements to replenish iron stores and hemoglobin levels. Side effects of iron supplements may include nausea, vomiting, constipation and diarrhea. Increasing the dose gradually and taking the iron with food may reduce side effects. During supplementation, physicians typically monitor red blood cell count and hemoglobin levels. Doctors may also prescribe a genetically engineered EPO to treat anemia caused by kidney failure.
Other Causes of Anemia
Insufficient iron in the diet or an inability to absorb iron may cause iron deficiency anemia. Vegetarians who do not eat meat proteins may not get enough iron. Teenage girls and women of childbearing age lose iron during menstruation, leaving them more vulnerable to anemia. Celiac disease, Crohn's disease and recent gastric bypass surgery may make it more difficult for your body to absorb iron. Consult your doctor to determine the cause of your anemia before you begin taking an iron supplement.
