Managing the anemia of end-stage renal disease after hospitalization.

Aggravation of pre-existing anemia is a common clinical manifestation in patients who return to the dialysis facility after being hospitalized. Many of them display persistent anemia, with Hb levels remaining below the NKF-K/DOQI minimum threshold of 11 g/dL for 6 months or more following hospitalization. Proactive management of anemia in the periods before, during, and after hospitalization can often minimize the severity of any decrease in Hb while shortening the time required to reachieve targeted Hb levels.