There was no increased risk of infections with IV iron .
Gastrointestinal AEs were reduced with IV iron .
CONCLUSION Intravenous iron therapy is not associated with an increased risk of SAEs or infections .
Infusion reactions are more pronounced with IV iron
OBJECTIVE To amass all available evidence regarding the safety of intravenous ( IV ) iron preparations to provide a true balance of efficacy and safety .
Intravenous versus oral iron therapy for postpartum anaemia.
OBJECTIVE Postpartum iron deficiency anaemia ( IDA ) is common in women . Most women are treated with either oral iron supplementation or blood transfusion . Hence , the aim of our study was to compare the effect of treatment with either oral ferrous sulphate or intravenous ferrous sucrose on postpartum IDA . DESIGN A single centre , prospect i ve r and omised controlled trial . SETTING Women 's Centre , John Radcliffe Hospital , Oxford , UK . POPULATION Forty-four women with haemoglobin ( Hb ) of < 9 g/dl and ferritin of < 15 microgram/l at 24 - 48 hours postdelivery . METHODS Women were r and omised to receive either oral ferrous sulphate 200 mg twice daily for 6 weeks ( group O ) or intravenous ferrous sucrose 200 mg ( Venofer ; Vifor International Ltd , St Gallen , Switzerl and ) , two doses given on days 2 and 4 following recruitment ( group I ) . RESULTS were analysed by the Students t-test , chi-square test and analysis of variance . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Hb , haematocrit , red cell indices , ferritin and serum iron levels were measured on days 0 , 5 , 14 and 40 . Results By day 5 , the Hb level in women treated with intravenous iron had risen from 7.3 + /- 0.9 to 9.9 + /- 0.7 g/dl , while there was no change in those treated with oral iron . Women treated with intravenous iron had significantly higher Hb levels on days 5 and 14 ( P < 0.01 ) than those treated with oral iron ; although by day 40 , there was no significant difference between the two groups . Throughout the study , ferritin levels rose rapidly in those treated with intravenous iron and remained significantly higher than in those treated with oral iron ( P < 0.01 ) . CONCLUSIONS Intravenous iron sucrose increases the Hb level more rapidly than oral ferrous sulphate in women with postpartum IDA . It also appears to replenish iron stores more rapidly . However , this study was not large enough to address the safety of this strategy
There was no increased risk of infections with IV iron .
Gastrointestinal AEs were reduced with IV iron .
CONCLUSION Intravenous iron therapy is not associated with an increased risk of SAEs or infections .
Infusion reactions are more pronounced with IV iron
OBJECTIVE To amass all available evidence regarding the safety of intravenous ( IV ) iron preparations to provide a true balance of efficacy and safety .