[Dose-effect of the administration of ferrous fumarate in aged persons with iron deficiency].
BACKGROUND
Anemia is the most prevalent hematological problem in elderly persons, affecting 14% of the males and 6% of the females of the population over 60 years of age in Mexico City.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the effect produced by the prolonged administration of ferrous fumarate in elderly persons with iron deficiency.


METHODS
In a population of 178 subjects, aged between 65 to 100 years, iron deficiency was diagnosed in 51 (28.6%), who had serum iron concentrations below 80 micrograms/dL for men and 60 micrograms/dL for women, but only 21 patients (11.8%), accepted to participated in the study. The response to a 6 months oral administration of ferrous fumarate were studied with a daily oral dose of 5 mg/kg of elemental iron. The patients were classified in 3 groups according to the abnormal parameters of iron metabolism (group 1 = 10.9% anemia, group 2 = 28.0% and group 3 = 63.0% anemia).


RESULTS
The efficacy of treatment was evaluated by quantification of the changes occurred in serum iron concentrations, hemoglobin, ferritin and transferrin saturation index, at 0, 30, 90 and 180 days of treatment. This study showed that the treatment of oral ferrous fumarate in elderly patients with iron deficiency, produces a quantifiable improvement in measures of iron parameters within 6 months.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study suggest the usefulness of prolonged treatment with ferrous fumarate in elderly patients with iron deficiency, to avoid therapeutic failure as a consequence of non-compliance as is common in elderly patients.
Lares-Asseff
I
I
Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. rodpaoj@yahoo.com
Pérez
M G
MG
López
M C
MC
Romero
L
L
Camacho
G A
GA
Toledo
A
A
Guillé
A J
AJ
Trujillo
F
F
Juárez
H
H
Flores
J
J
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D005296:Ferrous Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D000090463:Iron Deficiencies; D008297:Male; D013997:Time Factors; D014168:Transferrin / Q000032:analysis; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood
D005296:Ferrous Compounds; D006454:Hemoglobins; D014168:Transferrin; D005293:Ferritins; D005492:Folic Acid; D007501:Iron; D014805:Vitamin B 12; C031621:ferrous fumarate
Dosis efecto de la administración de fumarato ferroso en personas ancianas con deficiencia de hierro.