Anemia is common among patients with heart failure. The degree of anemia in patients with heart failure after acute myocardial infarction is associated with a poor prognosis, and anemia in patients with chronic heart failure from any cause has repeatedly been shown to predict a poor outcome. Heart failure specialists believe that correction of reduced hemoglobin should be studied further to see whether it can help in the management of this serious chronic disease. This issue brings together all of the most current information about the relationship of anemia to heart failure and the role of anemia treatment in management of heart failure.