Parenteral iron therapy in cancer-associated anemia.
Anemia is common in cancer patients. Its cause is multifactorial, so a brief workup is always necessary to rule out simple, reversible causes. Anemia of chronic disease/inflammation and chemotherapy-induced anemia are the most common causes. Symptomatic or clinically severe anemia may require treatment with blood transfusion or an erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA). If ESA therapy is chosen, developing evidence now suggests that, similar to chronic renal failure patients on hemodialysis, the addition of intravenous iron can improve the response to ESA because of iron-restricted erythropoiesis, even in the iron-replete patient.
Joan Karnell Cancer Center at Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia, PA 19106, USA. davidhenry@pennoncology.com
David H
DH
Henry
D000740:Anemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D001682:Biological Availability; D006801:Humans; D007263:Infusions, Parenteral; D007501:Iron / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D015995:Prevalence
D007501:Iron