title: IRON-HF study: a randomized trial to assess the effects of iron in heart failure patients with anemia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Anemia in heart failure patients and has been associated with increased morbi-mortality. Previous studies have treated anemia in heart failure patients with either erythropoietin alone or combination of erythropoietin and intravenous (i.v.) iron. However, the effect of i.v. or oral (p.o.) iron supplementation alone in heart failure patients with anemia was virtually unknown.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare, in a double-blind design, the effects of i.v. iron versus p.o. iron in anemic heart failure patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  IRON-HF study was a multicenter, investigator initiated, randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trial that enrolled anemic heart failure patients with preserved renal function, low transferrin saturation (TSat) and low-to-moderately elevated ferritin levels. Interventions were Iron Sucrose i.v. 200 mg, once a week, for 5 weeks, ferrous sulfate 200 mg p.o. TID, for 8 weeks, or placebo. Primary endpoint was variation of peak oxygen consumption (peak VO2) assessed by ergospirometry over 3 month follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighteen patients had full follow-up data. There was an increment of 3.5 ml/kg/min in peak VO2 in the i.v. iron group. There was no increment in peak VO2 in the p.o. iron group. Patients' ferritin and TSat increased significantly in both treated groups. Hemoglobin increased similarly in all groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  I.v. iron seems to be superior in improving functional capacity of heart failure patients. However, correction of anemia seems to be at least similar between p.o. iron and i.v. iron supplementation.
authors.affiliation: Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, UFRGS, Porto Alegre-RS, Brazil. Electronic address: luisbeckdasilva@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Luís
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Beck-da-Silva
authors.forename: Diogo
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Piardi
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Soder
authors.forename: Luís Eduardo
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Rohde
authors.forename: Antônio Carlos
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Pereira-Barretto
authors.forename: Denílson
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: de Albuquerque
authors.forename: Edimar
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bocchi
authors.forename: Fábio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vilas-Boas
authors.forename: Lídia Zytynzki
authors.initials: LZ
authors.lastname: Moura
authors.forename: Marcelo W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Montera
authors.forename: Salvador
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rassi
authors.forename: Nadine
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Clausell
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000077605:Ferric Oxide, Saccharated; D005296:Ferrous Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005937:Glucaric Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D005290:Ferric Compounds; D005296:Ferrous Compounds; C020748:ferrous sulfate; D000077605:Ferric Oxide, Saccharated; D005937:Glucaric Acid
keywords: Anemia; Clinical trial; Ferrous sulfate; Heart failure; Iron sucrose