Parenteral iron therapy and phosphorus homeostasis: A review.

Phosphorus has an essential role in cellular and extracellular metabolism; maintenance of normal phosphorus homeostasis is critical. Phosphorus homeostasis can be affected by diet and certain medications; some intravenous iron formulations can induce renal phosphate excretion and hypophosphatemia, likely through increasing serum concentrations of intact fibroblast growth factor 23. Case studies provide insights into two types of hypophosphatemia: acute symptomatic and chronic hypophosphatemia, while considering the role of pre-existing conditions and comorbidities, medications, and intravenous iron. This review examines phosphorus homeostasis and hypophosphatemia, with emphasis on effects of iron deficiency and iron replacement using intravenous iron formulations.

How I treat anemia in the perisurgical setting.

Anemia is a common finding in the perioperative setting with significant untoward consequences including worsening of outcomes and diminished quality of life as well as increased risk of allogeneic blood transfusions. Here, we present 3 cases that illustrate how anemia can be perioperatively managed in patients undergoing cardiac, orthopedic, and oncology surgeries. Timely detection of anemia prior to high-blood loss surgeries can allow clinicians to manage it and optimize hemoglobin level, making patients better prepared for the surgery. Treatment of anemia should be guided by the etiology and may include erythropoietic agents, folic acid, B12, and iron preparations. Other blood management strategies geared toward reducing surgical blood loss such as autologous transfusion techniques and agents to optimize hemostasis are used during surgery and in the immediate postoperative period. Patients should be closely monitored following surgery for signs of ongoing bleeding in need of control. Finally, screening for and management of anemia should continue in the postoperative and postdischarge period, as persistence and recurrence of anemia can further undermine patient's outcomes.

Hepcidin levels predict nonresponsiveness to oral iron therapy in patients with iron deficiency anemia.

Levels of hepcidin, a major regulator of iron homeostasis, may identify patients with iron deficiency anemia (IDA) who will not respond to oral iron therapy. In this study, IDA patients underwent a 14-day trial (run-in) course of ferrous sulfate therapy. Nonresponders (Hgb increase <1 g/dL with 67% compliance rate) were randomized to IV ferric carboxymaltose (FCM; two injections of 750 mg) or further oral iron for 14 days. Screening hepcidin levels were 38.4 versus 11.3 ng/mL, P = 0.0002 in nonresponders versus responders to a trial of oral iron. Hepcidin of > 20 ng/mL, showed sensitivity of 41.3%, specificity of 84.4%, and positive predictive value of 81.6% for predicting nonresponsiveness to oral iron. PPVs for ferritin> 30 ng/mL or transferrin saturation (TSAT)>15% were 59.2 and 55%, respectively. Negative predictive values for hepcidin, ferritin, and TSAT were 46.3, 22.7, and 19.7, respectively. FCM versus oral iron showed Hgb increases of ≥ 1 gm/dL in 65.3% versus 20.8% (P < 0.0001) and Hgb increases of 1.7 ± 1.3 versus 0.6 ± 0.9 g/dL (P = 0.0025), respectively. We conclude that hepcidin predicts nonresponsiveness to oral iron in patients with IDA and is superior to TSAT or ferritin for this purpose. Nonresponse to oral iron therapy does not rule out IDA, since two-thirds of patients subsequently responded to intravenous iron.

Blood management.

CONTEXT: We provide an overview of the principles of blood management: the appropriate use of blood and blood components, with a goal of minimizing their use. OBJECTIVE: To review the strategies that exploit combinations of surgical and medical techniques, technologic devices, and pharmaceuticals, along with an interdisciplinary team approach that combines specialists who are expert at minimizing allogeneic blood transfusion. DATA SOURCES: A search on Medline and PubMed for the terms English and humans used in articles published within the last 20 years. CONCLUSIONS: Blood management is most successful when multidisciplinary, proactive programs are in place so that these strategies can be individualized to specific patients.

Autologous blood donation.

Preoperative autologous blood donation has become accepted as a standard practice in elective surgery. Subsequent improvements in blood safety and evolving surgical techniques resulting in less blood loss have caused a national decline in preoperative autologous blood donation by approximately 50%. Nevertheless, the continuing emergence of new pathogens and the potential for severe blood inventory shortages continue to give preoperative autologous blood donation an important role in blood conservation strategies.

Autologous blood donation.

Although preoperative autologous blood donation is employed in elective surgery, this is declining because of the increasingly safe allogeneic blood supply. However, it continues to be used because of the public's perception of allogeneic blood risks and increasing blood shortages. Patients may donate a unit of blood (450 +/- 45 ml) as often as twice weekly, up to 72 hours before surgery. Preoperative autologous blood is most beneficial in procedures that cause significant blood loss. It has been determined that preoperative autologous blood donation is poorly cost-effective; the use of this procedure must be based on evidence that it is safe and of value for the patient.