[Future perspectives of treatment for anemia in chronic kidney disease (CKD) using hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase inhibitors].

Oxygen biology is currently a focus of intensive scientific research. Three scientists received the Nobel prize in physiology or medicine for their outstanding scientific efforts in revealing the mechanisms of oxygen sensing and defense against hypoxia. Hypoxia is a final common pathway to end-stage kidney disease and plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular complications. Hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) are master regulators of defensive mechanisms against hypoxia. Erythropoietin is one of the main targets of HIFs that enhances oxygen delivery by increasing the production of red blood cells. HIF levels are regulated by HIF-prolyl hydroxylase (HIF-PH) inhibitors, which are now available as a new therapeutic modality against anemia in chronic kidney disease. HIF-PH inhibitors raise some theoretical concerns, but should be noted for their potential organ-protective effects.