Summary of the KDIGO guideline on anemia and comment: reading between the (guide)line(s)

The Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) clinical practice guideline for anemia in chronic kidney disease (CKD) is designed to assist health-care providers in treating CKD patients with anemia. A guideline is not intended to define a standard of care, and should not be construed as one, nor should it be interpreted as prescribing an exclusive course of management. It is intended to provide information and to allow the practitioner to make an informed decision, based on evidence and expert judgment. Every health-care professional making use of these recommendations is responsible for evaluating the appropriateness of applying them in any particular clinical situation. Owing to the general nature of a guideline, it is sometimes difficult to translate it to an individual patient's condition. As the primary goal is to improve patient care, we have decided to focus on practical clinical aspects of the KDIGO anemia guideline. Kidney International (2012) 82, 952-960; doi:10.1038/ki.2012.270; published online 1 August 2012