Diagnosis
Overview
Anaemia is defined as a reduction of the number of circulating red blood cells to below a certain threshold level. It can also be described as a low haemoglobin concentration or a low volume of packed red cells1. Renal anaemia refers to anaemia that is secondary to chronic kidney disease. Renal anaemia has numerous debilitating symptoms, but diagnosis can only be confirmed through blood tests.
Diagnosing renal anaemia is critical in establishing early and appropriate treatment in patients. There are many diagnostic tests available to help assess the nature of anaemia, as well as to determine renal function and the extent of comorbid risks. Expand your understanding of the available diagnostic tests by exploring the sections below.
Reference:
1. NAAC (National Anemia Action Council) Anemia monograph. Available at http://anemia.org/professionals/monograph/ [Accessed June 2008]