Intravenous iron administration during the maintenance period in erythropoietin-treated hemodialysis patients: a simple and effective method.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To determine the interval of intravenous iron administration during maintenance iron therapy in erythropoietin-treated hemodialysis patients. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The method of maintenance intravenous iron therapy has been studied in 20 stable erythropoietin-treated hemodialysis patients who have iron deficiency anemia diagnosed by transferring saturation (TSAT) below 20%. RESULTS: After receiving 1000 mg of intravenous iron as the first loading dose, the TSAT was increased from 16.4 +/- 0.5 to 29.3 +/- 2.6% (p < 0.05). After 155.6 +/- 7.3 days, such values was reduced to 16.3 +/- 1.4% (p < 0.05). The second loading dose was administered and could raise the TSAT to 33.7 +/- 3.9% (p < 0.05). The patients, then, received 100 mg of intravenous iron for every 15.6 +/- 2.9 days, one-tenth of the duration between the two loading doses. The values of TSAT at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 months after the second loading dose were 38.5 +/- 2.4, 37.1 +/- 0.2, 34.2 +/- 3.6, 34.1 +/- 3.3, 35.3 +/- 4.1, and 36.5 +/- 3.1% (NS). CONCLUSION: As such, in erythropoietin-treated hemodialysis patients, after loading with 1000 mg, prescription of 100 mg of intravenous iron for every 2 weeks could maintain the TSAT levels above 20%.