Conclusions All currently available intravenous iron preparations appear to be safe and effective , but ferric carboxymaltose seems to provide a better and quicker correction of haemoglobin and serum ferritin levels in iron-deficient patients
Background Iron deficiency is very common in a number of medical conditions .
Ferric carboxymaltose is a new stable iron preparation that can be administered in single infusions over short periods of time .
The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review of r and omised controlled trials ( RCTs ) regarding the efficacy and safety of the novel complex compared with other iron formulations .
In addition , the feasibility of a network meta- analysis for indirect comparisons was investigated .
Intravenous iron for the treatment of fatigue in nonanemic, premenopausal women with low serum ferritin concentration.
This is the first study to investigate the efficacy of intravenous iron in treating fatigue in nonanemic patients with low serum ferritin concentration . In a r and omized , double-blinded , placebo-controlled study , 90 premenopausal women presenting with fatigue , serum ferritin ≤ 50 ng/mL , and hemoglobin ≥ 120 g/L were r and omized to receive either 800 mg of intravenous iron (III)-hydroxide sucrose or intravenous placebo . Fatigue and serum iron status were assessed at baseline and after 6 and 12 weeks . Median fatigue at baseline was 4.5 ( on a 0 - 10 scale ) . Fatigue decreased during the initial 6 weeks by 1.1 in the iron group compared with 0.7 in the placebo group ( P = .07 ) . Efficacy of iron was bound to depleted iron stores : In patients with baseline serum ferritin ≤ 15 ng/mL  , fatigue decreased by 1.8 in the iron group compared with 0.4 in the placebo group ( P = .005 ) , and 82 % of iron-treated compared with 47 % of placebo-treated patients reported improved fatigue ( P = .03 ) . Drug-associated adverse events were observed in 21 % of iron-treated patients and in 7 % of placebo-treated patients ( P = .05 ) ; none of these events was serious . Intravenous administration of  iron improved fatigue in iron-deficient , nonanemic women with a good safety and tolerability profile . The efficacy of intravenous iron was bound to a serum ferritin concentration ≤ 15 ng/mL. This study was registered at the International St and ard R and omized Controlled Trial Number Register ( www.is rct n.org ) as IS RCT N78430425
Conclusions All currently available intravenous iron preparations appear to be safe and effective , but ferric carboxymaltose seems to provide a better and quicker correction of haemoglobin and serum ferritin levels in iron-deficient patients
Background Iron deficiency is very common in a number of medical conditions .
Ferric carboxymaltose is a new stable iron preparation that can be administered in single infusions over short periods of time .
The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review of r and omised controlled trials ( RCTs ) regarding the efficacy and safety of the novel complex compared with other iron formulations .
In addition , the feasibility of a network meta- analysis for indirect comparisons was investigated .