title: Oral Low-Dose Ferric Citrate Is a Useful Iron Source for Hyperphosphatemic Hemodialysis Patients: A Case Series.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Randomized trials have demonstrated that a phosphate binder ferric citrate (FeC) increases iron parameters in comparison with other phosphate binders, but the doses for FeC to improve iron stores safely have not been clarified.
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined changes of iron parameters and blood hemoglobin (Hb) in 7 iron-deficient hemodialysis (HD) patients taking FeC 750 mg/day as a phosphate binder.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median serum transferrin saturation and ferritin increased from 13% (interquartile range (IQR) 7-18) to 28% (IQR 22-31; p = 0.010) and from 17 ng/ml (IQR 11-60) to 106 ng/ml (IQR 58-176; p = 0.015) by 2 and 3 months respectively. With the persistence of these levels thereafter, the FeC administration reduced the usage of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents while maintaining adequate blood Hb levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Oral FeC 750 mg/day improves iron stores without inducing iron overload in hyperphosphatemic HD patients.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Shin-Kuki General Hospital, Saitama, Japan.
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tanemoto
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ishimoto
authors.forename: Hisako
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Saito
mesh_terms: D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D006397:Hematinics / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D054559:Hyperphosphatemia / Q000188:drug therapy; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood*; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014168:Transferrin / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D005290:Ferric Compounds; D006397:Hematinics; D006454:Hemoglobins; D014168:Transferrin; C025314:ferric citrate; D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron