title: Intravenous ferric saccharate as an iron supplement in dialysis patients.
abstract: In the present prospective study we examined the long-term effect of intravenous supplementation with ferric saccharate (IV Fe) in the treatment of the anemia of chronic dialysis patients. All patients, 64 on chronic hemodialysis (HD) and 9 on chronic ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), were treated intravenously with this preparation in a dose of 100 mg elemental iron twice monthly. There were five groups. Group 1: 41 HD patients who were receiving erythropoietin (EPO) for at least 6 months prior to the addition of IV Fe. In this group, when IV Fe was given over 6 months, the hematocrit (Hct) increased from a mean of 28.7 to 33.7%. Over the next 6 months, the EPO dose was gradually reduced by a mean of 61.1%, but the mean Hct remained unchanged. Group 2: 11 HD patients who started IV EPO simultaneously with the IV Fe. In this group, over 6 months, the mean Hct increased from 28.1 to 34.1. Over the next 6 months, the EPO dose was gradually reduced by 75.7%, but the mean Hct remained unchanged. Group 3: 12 HD patients who received IV Fe alone for 12 months. The mean Hct increased from 30.5 to 37.9%. Group 4: 4 CAPD patients who had been receiving subcutaneous EPO for at least 6 months prior to IV Fe therapy. Over the subsequent 6 months of IV Fe, the mean Hct increased from 28.4 to 33.3%. Group 5: 5 CAPD patients not on EPO who received IV Fe for 6 months. The mean Hct increased from 27.7 to 35.6%. No adverse effects were seen in any patients throughout the study. In conclusion, adequate Fe supplementation may allow the target Hct of about 33% to be reached without, or with only very low doses of EPO. IV Fe as ferric saccharate is a new and safe form of parenteral iron therapy of the anemia of chronic dialysis patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Ichilov Hospital, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Silverberg
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Blum
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Peer
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kaplan
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iaina
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000740:Anemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000077605:Ferric Oxide, Saccharated; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D005937:Glucaric Acid; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007501:Iron / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010531:Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory; D011446:Prospective Studies; D006435:Renal Dialysis
chemical_list: D004338:Drug Combinations; D005290:Ferric Compounds; D004921:Erythropoietin; D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron; D000077605:Ferric Oxide, Saccharated; D005937:Glucaric Acid