Anaemia is a medical condition that makes you feel weak, cold, tired, and short of breath. These symptoms are caused by a lack of oxygen carried by red blood cells to all parts of your body. Anaemia is a common complication of kidney failure. This is because healthy kidneys produce a hormone known as erythropoietin (EPO), which is carried in the blood to the bone marrow where it stimulates the production of red blood cells.

Diseased kidneys may fail to produce enough natural EPO, leading to anaemia. This condition can be treated with a synthetic form of EPO.