The cardio renal anemia syndrome: correcting anemia in patients with resistant congestive heart failure can improve both cardiac and renal function and reduce hospitalizations.

Anemia (Hemoglobin of < 12 to 13 g/dl) is frequently encountered in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF). This anemia may be partly due to hemodilution, partly to the associated reduction in renal function, and partly to the use of ACE inhibitors and aspirin. However, there is evidence that CHF alone--through excessive cytokine production may also reduce the bone marrow and cause anemia. In several recent studies anemia has been found to be associated with a more severe degree of CHF, a higher rate of death, renal failure, hospitalization and evidence of malnutrition. In both uncontrolled and controlled studies correction of anemia with erythropoietin with or without the addition of i.v. iron has been attempted. The correction of anemia has been associated with a marked improvement in New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional cardiac class and Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction, a marked reduction in the need for hospitalization and high dose oral and i.v. diuretics, and an improvement in exercise capacity, peak exercise oxygen utilization and quality of life. The serum creatinine, which had been increasing steadily before treatment, stabilized with the correction of anemia. All this suggests that control of anemia in CHF could become a valuable addition to the therapeutic armamentarium of CHF and might also play a major role in the prevention of progressive renal failure.