Hematologic Manifestations of Kidney Disease

Physiologically, there is an intimate link between the kidney and the blood. Many of the kidney diseases are the result of alteration in the blood such as dysproteinemia, microangiopathic hemolytic anemia (MAHA), hemolysis, etc. On the other hand, the kidney is the organ responsible for the regulation of hematopoiesis. Renal dysfunction can lead to both anemia and polycythemia. In addition, recent understanding of the MAHA process reveals that the renal microvasculature plays a key role in the pathogenesis. Finally, the failure of the kidney to clear toxins from the body can result in alteration involving hemostasis, as well as leukocyte function and survival.