Anaemia of renal disease: pathophysiology and treatment updates.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) often leads to renal anaemia, due to gradual reduction of erythropoietin-producing renal cells. About 15-30% of geriatric cats develop CKD, with renal disease being the primary cause of death of older cats. Of those cats with CKD, up to 65% in later-stage CKD will develop renal anaemia. Recognising and treating anaemia of renal disease is an important part of CKD therapy in both dogs and cats. The use of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) is standard-of-care in humans and becoming more used in veterinary medicine. Darbepoetin alfa (DA) has been shown to be effective in the treatment of renal anaemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]