![Sample our Bioscience journals, sign in here to start your access, Latest two full volumes FREE to you for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5925/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Bioscience.jpg"})
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Anemia has been remained one of the most characteristic and visible manifestations of chronic renal failure. Correction of anemia requires two main treatment strategies: increased stimulation of erythropoiesis, and maintenance of an adequate iron supply to the bone marrow.
Areas covered: Erythropoiesis activating agents became a mainstay in the treatment of renal anemia for more than 25 years. Recently, there have been several attempts to introduce new drugs to stimulate erythropoiesis or affect the hepcidin-ferroportin pathway. Orally available hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) stabilizing compounds are attractive alternatives. They not only increase hemoglobin, but also suppress hepcidin production and improve iron availability. Novel iron preparations, may also help to ameliorate anemia, with acceptable safety profile and other beneficial properties such a phosphate binding.
Expert opinion: One should be aware of potential risks and benefits of novel sophisticated therapies and their role in the management of renal anemia remain to be established. In particular HIF stabilizers needs to be proven safe, or even safer than ESAs, in large long-term safety studies testing hard end points, due its ubiquitous nature and the regulation of variety of biological processes potentially leading to unexpected side effects. Besides safety, cost-effectiveness appears the major issue in the modern world, including nephrology.
Declaration of interest
J Malyszko has received honoraria from Vifor Fresenius Medical Care Renal Pharma. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.