An update on the pathogenesis, pathology and treatment of the anemia of chronic renal failure.

In the past, the focus of the treatment of the anemia of chronic renal failure was on improving methods of dialysis and minimizing blood loss, combined with the use of anabolic steroids, blood transfusions when necessary, and chelating agents. It is only recently that the underlying pathology for the anemia of chronic renal failure has been addressed. Now there is the potential to correct this anemia, in most cases completely, through replacement of the hormone erythropoietin by therapy with recombinant human erythropoietin.