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Compiled by GayToday About HIV-Related Anemia
The Condition Anemia is a condition in which the body does not have as many red blood cells as it should. Red blood cells are produced in the bone marrow and contain hemoglobin, the iron-containing protein responsible for carrying oxygen throughout the body. The natural hormone called erythropoietin (EPO), which is made in the kidneys, stimulates the bone marrow to create red blood cells. When an insufficient number of red blood cells is produced, hemoglobin levels drop, and the blood is no longer able to carry enough oxygen to nourish the body's tissues. HIV-related anemia is characterized by symptoms such as muscle weakness, shortness of breath, headache, dizziness, rapid heartbeat and fatigue and can be a potentially debilitating condition. Some causes of anemia, such as deficiencies in diet and blood loss, are temporary and treatable. Other, chronic causes are often treatment-related and are more difficult to manage. For example, people with HIV are at special risk for anemia because many of the medications they use to treat their condition can suppress bone marrow and, subsequently, reduce red blood cells. The amount of red blood cells in your body may be determined by measuring hematocrit or hemoglobin. Hematocrit is the volume percentage of red blood cells in whole blood. Hemoglobin is the amount of the oxygen-carrying molecule found in the blood and is measured in grams per deciliter of blood (g/dL). Hemoglobin and hematocrit are assessed using a routine blood test called a complete blood count (CBC). Incidence and Prevalence
Treatment Treating anemia in people with HIV/AIDS may improve the patient's ability to engage in everyday activities and cope with the disease. While physicians have traditionally relied on blood transfusions to raise red blood cell levels and help restore energy, many now try to avoid them because of the potential risk of infection, particularly in those populations with suppressed immune systems. There are now medications that can supplement the body's natural supply of EPO to help increase hematocrit and hemoglobin levels. Patients should consult their health care professional for more information about treatments for anemia. Anemia is a serious problem for people living with HIV/AIDS. Recognizing the symptoms of anemia, monitoring patient hemoglobin levels and aggressively treating the condition can help patients resume their normal daily routines and get back to living the types of lifestyles to which they are accustomed. HIV Related-Anemia: The Facts Anemia, an abnormally low level of red blood cells, is a common complication of HIV/AIDS and its treatments; the condition affects up to 95 percent of HIV patients over the course of infection. HIV-related anemia can be caused by the virus itself, by complications of HIV infection that infiltrate the bone marrow and decrease red blood cell production and by HIV/AIDS treatments that suppress the bone marrow. HIV-related anemia can lead to dose modification or discontinuation of HIV/AIDS therapies that are otherwise keeping the virus in check. Symptoms of HIV-related anemia include fatigue, muscle weakness, shortness of breath, headache, dizziness and rapid heartbeat. Fatigue, the most frequently reported symptom of anemia, affects 66 percent to 85 percent of people with advanced HIV/AIDS. Hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying component of red blood cells, is the main indicator of anemia and is measured as part of a complete blood count (CBC). Treatments for HIV-related anemia include blood transfusions and medications that stimulate red blood cell production. Health Campaign Alert from the National Minority AIDS Council: The National Minority AIDS Council (NMAC) is teaming with model/actress Daisy Fuentes in a national awareness campaign to encourage people living with HIV/AIDS to see their doctor about anemia so they can improve their quality of life. "Celebrate Life" is the theme of the campaign, which is being launched today and features print and radio public service announcements and advertisements, a toll-free number for more information (1-888-321-AIDS), and on-line information at www.nmac.org. "The AIDS epidemic is having a devastating impact on people of color, particularly Latinos and African-Americans," said Paul Akio Kawata, executive director of NMAC. "The quality of life for people living with HIV is being compromised by HIV-related conditions such as anemia. As many as 95 percent of people living with HIV will develop anemia during the course of their disease and we want them to know they don't have to feel tired all the time. Options are available that can dramatically improve their quality of life." Anemia is an abnormally low level of red blood cells and is a common complication of HIV/AIDS and its treatments. It can be caused by the virus itself or by certain HIV/AIDS treatments that suppress the bone marrow, among other factors. It can be diagnosed by a routine red blood cell count. Symptoms of HIV-related anemia include fatigue, shortness of breath, headaches, difficulty concentrating and loss of appetite and sex drive. People suffering from anemia may feel tired, weak, drained or "wiped out," frequently lacking the energy to get out of bed or climb a flight of stairs. They can also experience difficulty performing everyday tasks, such as cooking, cleaning, taking a shower or making the bed. Many sufferers may not know they are anemic, attributing their symptoms to HIV/AIDS itself. "If my involvement can help people suffering from HIV-related anemia realize they don't have to feel so tired, I'll be very gratified, " said Ms. Fuentes, who also serves as Honorary Co-Chair of NMAC's Board of Directors. "I've always been very involved in the Latino community and want to get the word out that anemia is treatable and that people suffering from it can celebrate life again." Joining Ms. Fuentes in the print PSAs are four models living with HIV: Imani Harrington, an African-American playwright; Elias Luna, a Latino financial manager; Lisa Tiger, a Native American AIDS activist and mother of five; and Kip Wright, an African-American creative artist. "NMAC encourages people living with HIV and AIDS to see their health care professional for a red blood cell count, especially if they are feeling excessively tired," said Kawata. "We want people to begin to monitor their red blood cell count in the same way they keep track of their T-cells and viral load." The NMAC Anemia Awareness campaign, targeting English- and Spanish-language newspapers and radio stations throughout the country, comes at a time when the demographics of the AIDS epidemic are shifting dramatically, with people of color particularly African-Americans and Latinos becoming infected with HIV at much higher rates than whites. In fact, the estimated number of African-Americans and Latinos living with AIDS has more than doubled in the past five years. In 1997, the most recent year for which figures are available, the AIDS case rates for African-Americans were eight times those for whites, while Latinos had case rates four times the rates for whites. AIDS is now the leading cause of death among African-Americans between the ages of 25 and 44. The toll-free number (1-888-321-AIDS) will allow callers to obtain additional information about NMAC, HIV-related anemia, and the "Celebrate Life" campaign. Interested individuals are also encouraged to visit the NMAC web site at www.nmac.org or their local AIDS service organization. Located in Washington, DC, the National Minority AIDS Council was formed in 1987 to develop leadership within communities of color to address the issues of HIV/AIDS. Its constituency is composed of more than 3,000 community- based organizations that deal with AIDS on the front lines -- in hospitals, clinics, shelters, schools, storefronts and the streets. Thousands of men and women of color rely on such organizations for outreach, care, education, housing and support services. NMAC's goals are to lend visibility, leadership, educational messages, and materials, comprehensive technical assistance and a powerful national voice to these front line workers. Camera-ready copies of the print PSA in English and Spanish are available by calling Peter Velasco at NMAC, 202-483-6622. |
Simple activities that many people take for granted such as climbing stairs, walking the dog, meeting a friend for coffee can leave people living with HIV/AIDS feeling exhausted and weak. While sometimes this is the result of the disease itself, it is often the result of anemia a condition that, if left untreated, may become severe enough to interfere with a person's daily activities and overall well-being.
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