EPO and anemia: However, other factors have also been described to contribute to anemia in CKD patients, such as an absolute iron deficiency due to blood losses or an impaired iron absorption, an ineffective use of iron stores due to increased hepcidin levels, systemic inflammation due to CKD and associated comorbidities, a reduced bone marrow response to EPO due to uremic toxins, a reduced red cell life span, or vitamin B12 or folic acid deficiencies (13).