Which of the following is a common systemic complication of chronic kidney disease?

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Multiple Choice

Which of the following is a common systemic complication of chronic kidney disease?

Chronic kidney disease commonly causes anemia because the kidneys normally produce erythropoietin, the hormone that drives red blood cell production. As kidney function declines, the number of erythropoietin-producing cells falls, leading to a normocytic, normochromic anemia with a low reticulocyte count. This is one of the most frequent systemic complications and contributes to fatigue, reduced exercise tolerance, and can worsen cardiac outcomes by increasing the heart’s workload. Management focuses on correcting iron stores and using erythropoiesis-stimulating agents when appropriate, especially in patients on dialysis. The other options don’t fit as typical systemic complications of CKD. Hyperthyroidism isn’t a common feature of CKD, although thyroid function can be affected in chronic illness. Hyperkalemia can occur but is not characteristically associated with low blood pressure in CKD. Hypercalciuria with normal bone turnover isn’t a defining systemic issue in CKD, where mineral and bone disorders with variable bone turnover are more typical.

Chronic kidney disease commonly causes anemia because the kidneys normally produce erythropoietin, the hormone that drives red blood cell production. As kidney function declines, the number of erythropoietin-producing cells falls, leading to a normocytic, normochromic anemia with a low reticulocyte count. This is one of the most frequent systemic complications and contributes to fatigue, reduced exercise tolerance, and can worsen cardiac outcomes by increasing the heart’s workload. Management focuses on correcting iron stores and using erythropoiesis-stimulating agents when appropriate, especially in patients on dialysis.

The other options don’t fit as typical systemic complications of CKD. Hyperthyroidism isn’t a common feature of CKD, although thyroid function can be affected in chronic illness. Hyperkalemia can occur but is not characteristically associated with low blood pressure in CKD. Hypercalciuria with normal bone turnover isn’t a defining systemic issue in CKD, where mineral and bone disorders with variable bone turnover are more typical.

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