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 .
Safety and tolerability of intravenous ferric carboxymaltose in patients with iron deficiency anemia
There is limited safety information about ferric carboxymaltose ( FCM ) , a new intravenous iron preparation . This r and omized , crossover study compared the safety and tolerability of double‐blinded intravenous doses of FCM or placebo in patients with iron deficiency anemia . Subjects ( 559 ) with iron deficiency anemia received a dose of either FCM ( 15 mg/kg , maximum 1000 mg ) over 15 minutes or placebo on day 0 . On day 7 , subjects received the other agent . Safety evaluations were performed on days 7 and 14 . The primary endpoint was the incidence of treatment‐emergent adverse events during each 7‐day study period . During the first 24 hours and during the 7‐day treatment period , at least one treatment‐emergent adverse event was experienced by 15.0 % and 29.3 % of subjects after FCM and 11.4 % and 19.7 % after placebo , respectively . Most were classified as Grade 1 or 2 . Six subjects had Grade 3 treatment‐emergent adverse events  after FCM and 9 subjects after placebo . One subject had a Grade 4 , and 1 subject had a Grade 5 treatment‐emergent adverse event , but neither was considered study drug‐related . During the first 24 hours of the treatment period , drug‐related adverse events were reported in 9.3 % of subjects receiving FCM and 4.8 % receiving placebo . Of drug‐related Grade 3 events , 4 subjects received FCM and 5 subjects received placebo . Administration of FCM ( 15 mg/kg , maximum of 1000 mg ) over 15 minutes was well tolerated and associated with minimal risk of adverse reactions in patients with iron deficiency anemia
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 .