RT Book, Section
A1 Sutton, S. Scott
A1 Norris, LeAnn B.
A2 Sutton, S. Scott
SR Print(0)
ID 7250710
T1 Chapter 10. Anemia
T2 McGraw-Hill's NAPLEX® Review Guide
YR 2011
FD 2011
PB The McGraw-Hill Companies
PP New York, NY
SN 978-0-07-175562-7
LK accesspharmacy.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=7250710
RD 2024/04/19
AB Anemia  is  a  decline  in  the  concentration  of  hemoglobin  resulting  in  a  reduction  of  the  oxygen-carrying  capacity  of  the  blood.1  The  prevalence  of  anemia  varies  based  upon  age,  gender,  race/ethnicity,  and  comorbid  conditions  (Table  10-1).2-7  Patients  with  anemia  may  be  asymptomatic  initially,  but  the  lack  of  oxygen  eventually  results  in  fatigue,  lethargy,  shortness  of  breath,  headache,  edema,  and  tachycardia.  Complications  of  anemia  arise  when  the  hemoglobin  concentration  is  below  7  to  7.9  g/dL  (70-79  g/L  or  4.34-4.9  mmol/L).  Anemia  complications  include  cardiovascular  sequelae  and  hypoxia.  Common  causes  of  anemia  include  blood  loss,  decreased  production  of  red  blood  cells  (RBCs),  increased  destruction  of  RBCs,  or  a  combination  of  these  factors.  Comorbid  conditions  increase  the  risk  of  anemia,  particularly  in  cancer  patients  receiving  chemotherapy  and  chronic  kidney  disease  (CKD)  patients.  Factors  leading  to  hypo-productive  anemia  are:  nutritional  (such  as  iron,  vitamin  B12,  and  folic  acid),  cancer,  and  CKD.  Patients  with  immune-related  diseases  (such  as  rheumatoid  arthritis  and  systemic  lupus  erythematosus)  can  develop  anemia  as  a  complication  of  their  disease.  Anemia  related  to  these  chronic  inflammatory  conditions  is  termed  anemia  of  chronic  disease.  Management  of  the  anemia  is  determined  by  the  underlying  cause.  Drug  therapy  is  a  key  component  to  decreased  production  and  will  be  the  focus  of  this  chapter.