Comparison of short-term efficacy of iron sucrose with those of ferric chloride in hemodialysis patients: An open-label study.
BACKGROUND
It is intriguing and imperative that the comparison of the iron preparations in hemodialysis (HD) patients. This study aimed to observe the short-term efficacy of parenteral iron sucrose and ferric chloride in HD patients.


METHODS
This was a consecutive 10-week single-blind study in Taiwan. An intravenous iron supplement of 100 mg/week was administered as an infusion in 100 ml of normal saline, until a total dose of 1000 mg was achieved. The primary outcome was evaluated by the changes in serum hematocrit (Hct) levels. The changes in serum Hct and iron indices were evaluated every 2 weeks for 10 weeks. The results were collected from 21 April to 4 July 2013.


RESULTS
A total of 56 HD patients completed the study. Subjects were randomized into an iron sucrose group (26 patients) and a ferric chloride group (30 patients). Between the two treatment groups, there were no statistically significant differences in the change in serum Hct, ferritin, iron, or total iron binding capacity (P> 0.05). In the iron sucrose group, the increase in Hct levels was statistically significant at weeks 4, 8, and 10. In the ferric chloride group, the increase in Hct levels was statistically significant at week 8. No obvious major side effects were observed in both groups.


CONCLUSIONS
In the study subjects, parenteral iron sucrose was as effective and safe as ferric chloride for treating anemia in HD patients.
Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Republic of China; Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Taoyuan Armed Forces General Hospital, Taiwan, Republic of China.
Po-Jen
PJ
Hsiao
Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Taoyuan Armed Forces General Hospital, Taiwan, Republic of China.
Jenq-Shyong
JS
Chan
Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Republic of China; Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Taoyuan Armed Forces General Hospital, Taiwan, Republic of China.
Kun-Lin
KL
Wu
Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Republic of China; Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Taoyuan Armed Forces General Hospital, Taiwan, Republic of China.
Wen-Fang
WF
Chiang
Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Republic of China.
Jing-Shu
JS
Huang
Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Republic of China.
Chia-Chao
CC
Wu
Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Republic of China.
Pauling
P
Chu
Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Republic of China.
Jin-Shuen
JS
Chen
Anemia; ferric chloride; hemodialysis; intravenous iron; iron sucrose