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 .
Ferric carboxymaltose prevents recurrence of anemia in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.
BACKGROUND & AIMS Iron-deficiency anemia is the most common systemic complication of inflammatory bowel diseases ( IBD ) . Iron-deficiency anemia recurs frequently and rapidly after iron-replacement therapy in patients with IBD . We performed a r and omized , placebo-controlled trial to determine if administration of ferric carboxymaltose ( FCM ) prevents anemia in patients with IBD and low levels of serum ferritin . METHODS We performed a single-blind , multicenter study of nonanemic patients who had completed the FERGIcor study .  Serum levels of ferritin were assessed every second month , and patients were given FCM ( total iron dose , 1181 ± 662 mg ; n = 105 ) or placebo ( n = 99 ) when levels decreased to less than 100 μg/L. The primary end point was time to recurrence of anemia within 8 months . Secondary end points included changes of quality of life , disease activity , results from laboratory tests , and adverse events . RESULTS Anemia recurred in 26.7 % of subjects given FCM and in 39.4 % given placebo . The time to anemia recurrence was longer in the FCM group ( hazard ratio , 0.62 ; 95 % confidence interval , 0.38 - 1.00 ; P = .049 ) . Markers of body levels of iron increased or remained at normal levels in subjects given FCM ( ferritin increased by 30.3 μg/L , transferrin saturation increased by 0.6 % ) but decreased in the group given placebo ( ferritin decreased by 36.1 μg/L , transferrin saturation decreased by 4.0 % ) . Changes in quality of life and disease activity were comparable between groups . Adverse events were reported in 59.0 % of the FCM group and 50.5 % of the placebo group , and serious adverse events were reported in 6.7 % and 8.1 % , respectively . CONCLUSIONS FCM prevents recurrence of anemia in patients with IBD , compared with placebo . Nevertheless , the high rate of anemia recurrence warrants optimization of the frequency and requirements for FCM treatment
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 .