Erythropoietin Resistance in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease: Current Perspectives

Anemia is a frequent complication of chronic kidney disease, and its primary cause is erythropoietin defciency. After diagnosis, treatment begins with administration of an erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA). However, some patients present with resistance to ESA, which needs to be reversed, as it can increase the risk of death in patients with kidney disease. Therefore, we provide a discussion of the current literature regarding the factors that can modify the response to this class of drugs and the strategies that can be considered to optimize the benefts of treating anemia. Keywords: anemia, chronic kidney disease, erythropoietin, drug resistance