Cytomegalovirus May Cause Anemia in Patients with Kidney Disease

A virus that is present in most people in a latent state may induce or exacerbate anemia in patients with kidney disease, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN). The findings point to a new therapeutic target for affected individuals.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients and kidney transplant recipients often develop anemia, or low levels of red blood cells. This is often because they do not produce enough erythropoietin (EPO), a hormone that is made in the kidney and stimulates production of red blood cells. Lynn Butler, PhD, Cecilia Söderberg-Naucler, MD, PhD (Karolinska Institute, in Stockholm, Sweden) and their colleagues wondered whether infection with cytomegalovirus (CMV), a type of herpes virus carried by approximately 70% of the population, might play a role in the development of anemia in these patients.

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Common Virus May Cause Anemia in Patients with Kidney Disease

Source: News wice
Image credits: Marko Reschke