Intravenous sacharate iron for the treatment of ferropenic anemia in adults that cannot tolerate oral iron intake

Abstract

Ferropenic anemia is one of the most frequent causes for consultation in the hematology services. The standard treatment is with oral iron salts; however, there is a group of patients that require al alternate therapy. Intravenous sacharate iron has been successfully used since the decade of the 50's in Europe to treat anemia associated to renal chronic failure. In this study they assessed the efficacy and safety of sacharate iron in patients that did not tolerate oral iron intake.

Material and methods. A mixed cohort study was carried out in 40 adult patients with ferropenic anemia originated from different etiologies, with gastrointestinal intolerance, poor compliance with the oral treatment or severe symptomatic anemias, which were treated with intravenous sacharate iron, at calculated doses to correct losses and deposits. Six months follow up with clinical and laboratory controls.

Results. The average sacharate iron dose was 1227 mg. 35 patients (87.5%) recovered from the anemia, with final mean hemoglobin of 13.3 g/dl and increase average of 5.44 g/dl (p < 0.001). 27 (67.5%) had a complete response and 8 (20%) a partial response. Two patients did not respond. 4 patients showed minor adverse events.

Interpretation and conclusion. Intravenous iron-sacharate complex is safe and efficient for the treatment of ferropenic anemia in selected patients that require an alternate treatment to oral iron.