title: Intravenous Versus Oral Iron for the Treatment of Anemia in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.
abstract: Anemia is the most prevalent extraintestinal complication of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Our aim was to evaluate the comparative efficacy and harm of intravenous (IV) versus oral iron supplementation for correcting anemia in adult IBD patients.We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to integrate evidence from randomized controlled trials having enrolled adults with IBD, and comparing IV versus oral iron (head-to-head) for correcting iron-deficiency anemia. Medline, Embase, Scopus, and the Web of Science database were searched through July 2015. The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, the ClinicalTrials.gov, and international conference proceedings were also investigated. Two reviewers independently abstracted study data and outcomes, and rated each trial's risk-of-bias. Pooled odds ratio (OR) estimates with their 95% CIs were calculated using fixed- and random-effects models.Five eligible studies, including 694 IBD patients, were identified. In meta-analysis, IV iron demonstrated a higher efficacy in achieving a hemoglobin rise of ≥2.0 g/dL as compared to oral iron (OR: 1.57, 95% CI: 1.13, 2.18). Treatment discontinuation rates, due to adverse events or intolerance, were lower in the IV iron groups (OR: 0.27, 95% CI: 0.13, 0.59). Similarly, the occurrence of gastrointestinal adverse events was consistently lower in the IV iron groups. On the contrary, serious adverse events (SAEs) were more frequently reported among patients receiving IV iron preparations (OR: 4.57, 95% CI: 1.11, 18.8); however, the majority of the reported SAEs were judged as unrelated or unlikely to be related to the study medication. We found no evidence of publication bias, or between-study heterogeneity, across all analyses. Risk of bias was high across primary studies, because patients and personnel were not blinded to the intervention.IV iron appears to be more effective and better tolerated than oral iron for the treatment of IBD-associated anemia.
authors.affiliation: From the IBD Center, Department of Gastroenterology, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Rozzano, Milan, Italy (SB, GF, MA, SD); Humanitas University, Rozzano, Milan, Italy (SD); Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Spain (TL); Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology, Barcelona, Spain (TL); Hellenic Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Athens, Greece (TL); Laboratory of Hematology and Blood Bank Unit, "Attikon" University Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Athens, Greece (AT); and Department of Hepato-Gastroenterology and Inserm U954, University Hospital of Nancy, Lorraine University, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France (LP-B).
authors.forename: Stefanos
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bonovas
authors.forename: Gionata
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fiorino
authors.forename: Mariangela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Allocca
authors.forename: Theodore
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lytras
authors.forename: Argirios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tsantes
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Peyrin-Biroulet
authors.forename: Silvio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Danese
mesh_terms: D061605:Administration, Intravenous; D000284:Administration, Oral; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D007501:Iron / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D007501:Iron