How to evaluate anemia in Chronic kidney disease?
EPO deficiency is a diagnosis of exclusion, and checking EPO levels in patients with Chronic kidney disease is generally not indicated. The routine evaluation of such patients should include:
• Measurement of RBC indices
• Reticulocyte count
• Transferrin saturation (TSAT)
• Serum ferritin
• Stool for occult blood testing
If these tests reveal no alternative cause of anemia, it can be presumed that the anemia is primarily due to EPO deficiency.