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S134 Anaemia and Heart Failure

Anaemia is common in patients with chronic heart failure, with prevalence ranging from 15‐55% depending upon the population studied and definition for anaemia used. The very fact that anaemia is so common and that the clinical symptoms of anaemia closely mirror those of heart failure may account for the fact that the potential for an important pathophysiological link has largely been ignored until recently. The evidence used to guide the management of chronic heart failure is amongst the strongest for any chronic medical condition. Yet it remains a leading cause of hospitalization in the Western World and a substantial financial burden. The benefits of ‘add on neurohormonal antagonism’ appear to have reached a plateau. Therefore, identification of novel therapeutic strategies to improve symptoms and/or survival is of clinical and economic importance. This presentation will discuss the data that lend support to an important pathophysiological role for low haemoglobin in patients with chronic heart failure, and how it may be amenable to therapeutic correction. This is of particular relevance in hospitalised patients with marked fluid retention and concomitant anaemia, in whom it may be difficult to promote a satisfactory diuresis without correction of haemoglobin. The use of blood transfusion and its avoidance in this setting will be specifically considered.