Efficacy of the cation exchange resin, sodium polystyrene sulfonate, to decrease iron absorption.
BACKGROUND
Iron is not bound by charcoal; therefore, a method of binding iron in the gastrointestinal tract to prevent absorption in iron overdose is needed. This study investigated the efficacy and safety of sodium polystyrene sulfonate to prevent absorption of iron in human volunteers.


METHODS
Six adult volunteers completed this prospective crossover trial. Following an oral dose of elemental iron 10 mg/kg, each subject received sodium polystyrene sulfonate 30 g or water as control. Baseline and serial serum iron samples were drawn to determine pharmacokinetic parameters.


RESULTS
A trend toward increased time to peak following sodium polystyrene sulfonate compared to the control arm (5.7 vs 3.6 hours) was observed but was not statistically significant (p = 0.517). A trend toward smaller area-under-the-curve for the sodium polystyrene sulfonate was evident but was not statistically significant (p = 0.77). Iron concentration increased on average 298 mcg/dL and 370 mcg/dL above baseline in the treatment and control arms (p = 0.44). Sodium polystyrene sulfonate is not an effective method of decontamination for iron overdose.
Maryland Poison Center, Baltimore, USA. gsheph@parknet.pmh.org
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G
Shepherd
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Klein-Schwartz
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Burstein
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019540:Area Under Curve; D001772:Blood Cell Count / Q000187:drug effects; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects; D002411:Cation Exchange Resins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007408:Intestinal Absorption / Q000187:drug effects*; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011137:Polystyrenes / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood; D011446:Prospective Studies
D001786:Blood Glucose; D002411:Cation Exchange Resins; D004573:Electrolytes; D011137:Polystyrenes; C003321:polystyrene sulfonic acid; D007501:Iron; D011188:Potassium