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 .
A Randomized Controlled Trial of Oral versus Intravenous Iron in Chronic Kidney Disease
Background : It is unknown whether intravenous iron or oral iron repletion alone can correct anemia associated with chronic kidney disease ( CKD ) . We conducted a r and omized multicenter controlled trial in adult anemic , iron-deficient non-dialysis CKD ( ND-CKD ) patients ( ≧stage 3 ) not receiving erythropoiesis-stimulating agents ( ESAs ) . Methods : The participants were r and omized to receive either a sodium ferric gluconate complex ( intravenous iron ) 250 mg i.v . weekly × 4 or ferrous sulfate ( oral iron ) 325 mg t.i.d . × 42 days . Hemoglobin ( Hgb ) , ferritin and transferrin saturation ( TSAT ) were measured serially , and the Kidney Disease Quality of Life ( KDQoL ) question naire was administered on days 1 and 43 . The primary outcome variable was change from baseline ( CFB ) to endpoint in Hgb values . Results : Seventy-five patients were analyzed  ( intravenous iron n = 36 , oral iron n = 39 ) . CFB in Hgb was similar in the two groups ( intravenous iron 0.4 g/dl vs. oral iron 0.2 g/dl , p = n.s . ) . However , the increase in Hgb was only significant with intravenous iron ( p < 0.01 ) . In comparison to oral iron , intravenous iron achieved greater improvements in ferritin ( 232.0 ± 160.8 vs. 55.9 ± 236.2 ng/ml , p < 0.001 ) and TSAT ( 8.3 ± 7.5 vs. 2.9 ± 8.8 % , p = 0.007 ) . Intravenous iron caused greater improvements in KDQoL scores than oral iron ( p < 0.05 ) . The most common side effect reported with intravenous iron was hypotension , while constipation was more common with oral iron . Conclusions : Oral and intravenous iron similarly increase Hgb  in anemic iron-depleted ND-CKD patients not receiving ESAs . Although in comparison to oral iron , intravenous iron may result in a more rapid repletion of iron stores and greater improvement in quality of life , it exposes the patients to a greater risk of adverse effects and increases inconvenience and cost
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 .