Therefore, the hemoglobin concentration may simply be a surrogate marker for poor prognosis, which indicates ESA resistance caused by inflammation, impaired iron utilization, or fluid retention in patients with CKD or congestive heart failure, rather than a therapeutic target.
Hemodilution was first described in pregnant women and is believed to be an adaptive mechanism.
During pregnancy, the maternal plasma volume expands 45% on average to meet the greater needs of the placental circulation. Therefore, hemoglobin concentrations are diluted and the threshold for a diagnosis of anemia, which is defined as hemoglobin