Quality -of-life scores ( Piper Fatigue Scale MD 0.73 , 95 % CI 0.29 to 1.18 ; I2 = 0 % ; studies = 3 ) and peak oxygen consumption ( MD 2.77 mL/kg/min , 95 % CI -0.89 to 6.43 ; I2 = 36 % ; 2 studies , 32 participants ) were associated with very low- quality evidence , and we remain uncertain about the role of intravenous iron for these metrics .
Current evidence is insufficient to show benefit of intravenous iron preparations for the treatment of non-anaemic iron deficiency across a variety of patient population s , beyond stating that it may result in a small , clinical ly insignificant increase in haemoglobin concentration .
BACKGROUND Iron deficiency is one of the most common nutritional deficiencies , and has a number of physiological manifestations .
Early , or non-anaemic iron deficiency can result in fatigue and diminished exercise capacity .
Oral iron preparations have a high incidence of intolerable side effects , and are ineffective in certain forms of iron deficiency .
Consequently , intravenous iron preparations are increasingly used in the treatment of non-anaemic iron deficiency .
The newer , more stable iron preparations in particular purport to have a lower incidence of side effects , and are now used across a range of different patient population s. OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of intravenous iron therapy in the treatment of adults with non-anaemic iron deficiency .
Clinical efficacy and safety of IV ferric carboxymaltose (FCM) treatment of RLS: a multi-centred, placebo-controlled preliminary clinical trial.
OBJECTIVE Intravenous ( IV ) iron has been used as a treatment to reduce Restless Legs Syndrome ( RLS ) symptoms , but two double-blinded trials of a frequently prescribed IV iron formulation , iron sucrose , failed to show lasting efficacy . This study evaluates efficacy and safety of a new IV iron formulation ( ferric carboxymaltose , FCM ) with molecular properties that may make iron more available for uptake to the brain than iron sucrose does . METHODS In this 28-day , multi-centre , r and omised , placebo-controlled trial 46 RLS patients were discontinued from all RLS treatment . Twenty-four received 500 mg FCM in two doses 5 days apart and 22 received a matching placebo . At day 28 , those on placebo were given a single 1000 mg IV FCM and those not responding to initial treatment were given a third dose of 500 mg FCM . Patients were followed up for 24 weeks or until needing added RLS treatment . RESULTS FCM significantly improved primary and secondary outcomes compared to placebo :  International Restless Legs Syndrome study group severity scale ( IRLS ) average ( SD ) decrease of 8.9 ( 8.52 ) versus 4.0 ( 6.11 ) , p=0.040 ; Clinical Global Inventory of Change ( CGI-1 ) very much or much improved 48.3 % versus 14.3 % , p=0.004 . Quality of life was also significantly improved . Of the 24 with initial iron treatment 45 % responded and 29 % remitted ( IRLS ≤ 10 ) at day 28 , and 25 % continued free of other RLS medications at 24 weeks after treatment . The single 1000 mg dose on day 28 produced the same degree of treatment response as the divided dose , but the added 500 mg dose for those not responding to the initial treatment showed little benefit . There were no significant adverse events . CONCLUSIONS IV FCM  provided a safe and effective treatment for RLS that lasted for at least 24 weeks for some patients . Larger studies are needed to confirm these results
Quality -of-life scores ( Piper Fatigue Scale MD 0.73 , 95 % CI 0.29 to 1.18 ; I2 = 0 % ; studies = 3 ) and peak oxygen consumption ( MD 2.77 mL/kg/min , 95 % CI -0.89 to 6.43 ; I2 = 36 % ; 2 studies , 32 participants ) were associated with very low- quality evidence , and we remain uncertain about the role of intravenous iron for these metrics .
Current evidence is insufficient to show benefit of intravenous iron preparations for the treatment of non-anaemic iron deficiency across a variety of patient population s , beyond stating that it may result in a small , clinical ly insignificant increase in haemoglobin concentration .
BACKGROUND Iron deficiency is one of the most common nutritional deficiencies , and has a number of physiological manifestations .
Early , or non-anaemic iron deficiency can result in fatigue and diminished exercise capacity .
Oral iron preparations have a high incidence of intolerable side effects , and are ineffective in certain forms of iron deficiency .
Consequently , intravenous iron preparations are increasingly used in the treatment of non-anaemic iron deficiency .
The newer , more stable iron preparations in particular purport to have a lower incidence of side effects , and are now used across a range of different patient population s. OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of intravenous iron therapy in the treatment of adults with non-anaemic iron deficiency .