Challenging Cases in CKD Anemia: The Kidneys and Heart as Linked Parts

Host: Ajay K. Singh, MBBS, FRCP, MBA
Guest: Kirsten L. Johansen, MD

Anemia in chronic kidney disease (CKD) is persistently undermanaged because current treatments have been linked with an increased risk for major cardiovascular events. They are also injectable or intravenous and definitely invasive, which no doubt limits patient acceptance.

Hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase inhibitors (HIF-PHIs) are a novel class of small-molecule oral drugs in late-phase development and under review by the FDA that are poised to provide an alternative treatment paradigm for patients with CKD-related anemia. Physicians and other clinicians who manage patients with anemia in CKD will need to be familiar with these novel agents and the data supporting their use in appropriately selected patients.