The anemia of end stage renal disease (ESRD) is common and often severe complication that can be managed successfully by erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESA) administration.

To investigate current practice of anemia management in hemodialysis patients and to assess the appropriateness of anemia management by comparing observed practice to the Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (KDOQI) guideline recommendations.

The study was conducted at two hemodialysis centers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Data on anemia parameters, comorbidities, ESA dosing and iron supplementation were collected. The data were collected for 7 months retrospectively from April to the end of May 2008 and prospectively from June to October 2008. Patients who were over 18 years of age with ESRD undergoing hemodialysis were included. Patients were excluded if they have cancer or receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

Data were collected from 87 patients. Mean Hgb value for those patients was 11.16±0.97g/dL. Thirty-nine patients (45%) had mean Hgb values between 11.0 and 12.0g/dL the target range recommended by KDOQI guideline. The mean weekly prescribed dose of erythropoietin was 8099±5946IU/Week (135±99IU/kg/Week). Information on ferritin concentrations was available for 48 (55%) patients. The mean serum ferritin concentration for those patients was 693±420.5ng/mL. Fifty-two patients had transferrin saturation (TSAT) values recorded. The mean TSAT value was 38.5±19.7%.

There is an opportunity to improve anemia management in hemodialysis patients particularly thorough evaluation of causes of inadequate response rate and better monitoring and management of iron status.