New Treatment of Anemia in End Stage Kidney Disease

 The FDA recently approved a new medication called Vafseo to help manage anemia, a common complication in people with chronic kidney disease (CKD) who need dialysis. Anemia is a condition where your blood doesn't have enough healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen to your body's tissues. 

What is Vafseo?

• Vafseo is a pill you take once a day to help your body produce more red blood cells.
• Red blood cells carry oxygen throughout your body, and low red blood cell levels can make you feel tired and weak. This is called anemia. 

How Does it Work?

• Vafseo works by tricking your body into thinking there's less oxygen than there really is.
• This "fools" your body into making more red blood cells to compensate.

Who can take Vafseo?

• Vafseo is currently only for adults with CKD who've been on dialysis for at least 3 months.

Important Things to Know:

• The two major side effects of Vafseo are diarrhea and raised blood pressure. Your doctor will monitor your blood pressure closely.
• Vafseo isn't for everyone. It isn't recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women and persons with uncontrolled high blood pressure.

Written by Susan Egbert

Edited by Heaven Mamou

References

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