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 .
Hepcidin levels predict nonresponsiveness to oral iron therapy in patients with iron deficiency anemia
Levels of hepcidin , a major regulator of iron homeostasis , may identify patients with iron deficiency anemia ( IDA ) who will not respond to oral iron therapy . In this study , IDA patients underwent a 14‐day trial ( run‐in ) course of ferrous sulfate therapy . Nonresponders ( Hgb increase < 1 g/dL with 67 % compliance rate ) were r and omized to IV ferric carboxymaltose ( FCM ; two injections of 750 mg ) or further oral iron for 14 days . Screening hepcidin levels were 38.4 versus 11.3 ng/mL , P = 0.0002 in nonresponders versus responders to a trial of oral iron . Hepcidin of > 20 ng/mL , showed sensitivity of 41.3 % , specificity of 84.4 % , and positive predictive value of 81.6 % for predicting nonresponsiveness to oral iron . PPVs for ferritin > 30 ng/mL or transferrin saturation (TSAT)>15 % were 59.2 and 55 % , respectively . Negative predictive values for hepcidin , ferritin , and TSAT were 46.3 , 22.7 , and 19.7 , respectively . FCM versus oral iron showed Hgb increases of ≥1 gm/dL in 65.3 % versus 20.8 % ( P < 0.0001 ) and Hgb increases of 1.7 ± 1.3 versus 0.6 ± 0.9 g/dL ( P = 0.0025 ) , respectively . We conclude that hepcidin predicts nonresponsiveness to oral iron in patients with IDA and is superior to TSAT or ferritin for this purpose . Nonresponse  to oral iron therapy does not rule out IDA , since two‐thirds of patients subsequently responded to intravenous iron . Am . J. Hematol . 88:97–101 , 2013 . © 2012 Wiley Periodicals ,
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 .