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 .
FERGIcor, a randomized controlled trial on ferric carboxymaltose for iron deficiency anemia in inflammatory bowel disease.
BACKGROUND & AIMS Iron deficiency anemia ( IDA ) is common in chronic diseases and intravenous iron is an effective and recommended treatment . However , dose calculations and inconvenient administration may affect compliance and efficacy . We compared the efficacy and safety of a novel fixed-dose ferric carboxymaltose regimen ( FCM ) with individually calculated iron sucrose ( IS ) doses in patients with inflammatory bowel disease ( IBD ) and IDA . METHODS This r and omized , controlled , open-label , multicenter study included 485 patients with IDA ( ferritin < 100 μg/L , hemoglobin [ Hb ] 7 - 12 g/dL [ female ] or 7 - 13 g/dL [ male ] ) and mild-to-moderate or quiescent IBD at 88 hospitals and clinics in 14 countries . Patients received either FCM in a maximum of 3 infusions of 1000 or 500 mg iron , or Ganzoni-calculated IS dosages in up to 11 infusions of 200 mg iron . Primary end point was Hb response ( Hb increase ≥ 2 g/dL ) ; secondary end points included anemia resolution and iron status normalization by week 12 . RESULTS The results of 240  FCM-treated and 235 IS-treated patients were analyzed . More patients with FCM than IS achieved Hb response ( 150 [ 65.8 % ] vs 118 [ 53.6 % ] ; 12.2 % difference , P = .004 ) or Hb normalization ( 166 [ 72.8 % ] vs 136 [ 61.8 % ] ; 11.0 % difference , P = .015 ) . Both treatments improved quality of life scores by week 12 . Study drugs were well tolerated and drug-related adverse events were in line with drug-specific clinical experience . Deviations from scheduled total iron dosages were more frequent in the IS group . CONCLUSIONS The simpler FCM-based dosing regimen showed better efficacy and compliance , as well as a good safety profile , compared with the Ganzoni-calculated IS dose regimen
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 .