Anaemia of the critically ill patients: pathophysiology and management

Abstract

Anaemia is frequent in the critically ill patients, present in almost 80% of them. Anaemia is associated with worse outcome and increased mortality. Its pathophysiology combines disturbances of erythropoietin synthesis and iron metabolism. The better understanding of iron metabolism regulation by the hormone hepcidin may offer new therapeutic perspectives. However, to date, anaemia management requires mainly prevention of blood spoliations, mainly by reducing blood sampling, and tailored blood transfusions.