Burden of anemia in kidney transplant patients: Epidemiology, pathophysiology, and management

Anemia following kidney transplantation (KTx) is a prevalent complication that adversely affects allograft function, graft survival, and patient survival. Its etiology is multifactorial, encompassing general causes of anemia and KTx-specific factors, such as immunosuppression and reduced erythropoi...

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Main Authors: Elmukhtar Habas, Amnna Rayani, Aml Habas, Gamal Afitori, Ala Habas, Kalifa Farfar, Eshrak Habas, Khaled Alarbi, Mohamed Bagi, Almehdi Errayes, Abdelrahman Hamad, Abdel-Naser Elzouki
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: National Kidney Foundation of Ukraine 2025-06-01
Series:Український Журнал Нефрології та Діалізу
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Online Access:https://ukrjnd.com.ua/index.php/journal/article/view/948
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author Elmukhtar Habas
Amnna Rayani
Aml Habas
Gamal Afitori
Ala Habas
Kalifa Farfar
Eshrak Habas
Khaled Alarbi
Mohamed Bagi
Almehdi Errayes
Abdelrahman Hamad
Abdel-Naser Elzouki
author_facet Elmukhtar Habas
Amnna Rayani
Aml Habas
Gamal Afitori
Ala Habas
Kalifa Farfar
Eshrak Habas
Khaled Alarbi
Mohamed Bagi
Almehdi Errayes
Abdelrahman Hamad
Abdel-Naser Elzouki
author_sort Elmukhtar Habas
collection DOAJ
description Anemia following kidney transplantation (KTx) is a prevalent complication that adversely affects allograft function, graft survival, and patient survival. Its etiology is multifactorial, encompassing general causes of anemia and KTx-specific factors, such as immunosuppression and reduced erythropoietin production. Management primarily involves iron supplementation and erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs); however, specific guidelines for post-KTx anemia are lacking, and the optimal methods for treating iron deficiency in KTx recipients remain undefined. Emerging evidence suggests that sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors may improve hemoglobin and hematocrit levels in patients with chronic kidney disease and KTx recipients. To review recent advances in the pathogenesis, epidemiology, treatment, and outcomes of post-KTx anemia, we conducted a literature search using PubMed, Google Scholar, and Google, with keywords including "anemia in kidney transplantation," "anemia etiology in KTx recipients," "iron deficiency in renal transplantation," and "short- and long-term effects of anemia in KTx recipients." This review synthesizes evidence indicating that effective management of post-KTx anemia, through ESAs and supplementation of erythropoiesis essentials (iron, folate, vitamin B12), is safe and may confer renoprotective benefits. Targeted anemia correction enhances quality of life, reduces mortality, improves transplanted kidney function, and lowers the risk of graft rejection, underscoring the need for standardized treatment protocols.
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series Український Журнал Нефрології та Діалізу
spelling doaj-art-d445d5ebc0264020b4af0e2dfd15553b2025-08-20T02:39:54ZengNational Kidney Foundation of UkraineУкраїнський Журнал Нефрології та Діалізу2304-02382616-73522025-06-012(86)10.31450/ukrjnd.2(86).2025.08 Burden of anemia in kidney transplant patients: Epidemiology, pathophysiology, and managementElmukhtar Habas0Amnna Rayani1Aml Habas2Gamal Afitori3Ala Habas4Kalifa Farfar5Eshrak Habas6Khaled Alarbi7Mohamed Bagi8Almehdi Errayes9Abdelrahman Hamad10Abdel-Naser Elzouki11Hamad General Hospital, Open Libyan University, Doha, QatarTripoli Children Hospital, Tripoli University, Tripoli, LibyaTripoli Pediatric Hospital, Open Libyan University, Tripoli, LibyaHamad General Hospital, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar Tripoli Central Hospital, Tripoli University, Tripoli, Libya Al Wakra General Hospital, Qatar University, Al Wakra, QatarTripoli Central Hospital, Tripoli University, Tripoli, LibyaHamad General Hospital, Qatar University, Doha, QatarHamad General Hospital, Qatar University, Doha, QatarHamad General Hospital, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar Hamad General Hospital, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar Hamad General Hospital, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar Anemia following kidney transplantation (KTx) is a prevalent complication that adversely affects allograft function, graft survival, and patient survival. Its etiology is multifactorial, encompassing general causes of anemia and KTx-specific factors, such as immunosuppression and reduced erythropoietin production. Management primarily involves iron supplementation and erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs); however, specific guidelines for post-KTx anemia are lacking, and the optimal methods for treating iron deficiency in KTx recipients remain undefined. Emerging evidence suggests that sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors may improve hemoglobin and hematocrit levels in patients with chronic kidney disease and KTx recipients. To review recent advances in the pathogenesis, epidemiology, treatment, and outcomes of post-KTx anemia, we conducted a literature search using PubMed, Google Scholar, and Google, with keywords including "anemia in kidney transplantation," "anemia etiology in KTx recipients," "iron deficiency in renal transplantation," and "short- and long-term effects of anemia in KTx recipients." This review synthesizes evidence indicating that effective management of post-KTx anemia, through ESAs and supplementation of erythropoiesis essentials (iron, folate, vitamin B12), is safe and may confer renoprotective benefits. Targeted anemia correction enhances quality of life, reduces mortality, improves transplanted kidney function, and lowers the risk of graft rejection, underscoring the need for standardized treatment protocols. https://ukrjnd.com.ua/index.php/journal/article/view/948anemia, kidney transplantation, erythropoietin, iron deficiencies, sodium-glucose transporter 2 inhibitors, graft rejection, graft survival, quality of life.
spellingShingle Elmukhtar Habas
Amnna Rayani
Aml Habas
Gamal Afitori
Ala Habas
Kalifa Farfar
Eshrak Habas
Khaled Alarbi
Mohamed Bagi
Almehdi Errayes
Abdelrahman Hamad
Abdel-Naser Elzouki
Burden of anemia in kidney transplant patients: Epidemiology, pathophysiology, and management
Український Журнал Нефрології та Діалізу
anemia, kidney transplantation, erythropoietin, iron deficiencies, sodium-glucose transporter 2 inhibitors, graft rejection, graft survival, quality of life.
title Burden of anemia in kidney transplant patients: Epidemiology, pathophysiology, and management
title_full Burden of anemia in kidney transplant patients: Epidemiology, pathophysiology, and management
title_fullStr Burden of anemia in kidney transplant patients: Epidemiology, pathophysiology, and management
title_full_unstemmed Burden of anemia in kidney transplant patients: Epidemiology, pathophysiology, and management
title_short Burden of anemia in kidney transplant patients: Epidemiology, pathophysiology, and management
title_sort burden of anemia in kidney transplant patients epidemiology pathophysiology and management
topic anemia, kidney transplantation, erythropoietin, iron deficiencies, sodium-glucose transporter 2 inhibitors, graft rejection, graft survival, quality of life.
url https://ukrjnd.com.ua/index.php/journal/article/view/948
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