High-dose intravenous treatment in iron deficiency anaemia in inflammatory bowel disease: early efficacy and impact on quality of life.

BACKGROUND: Anaemia and iron deficiency are very common in inflammatory bowel disease. Clinical trials have shown intravenous iron to be effective and well tolerated. However, published experience in clinical practice with specific evaluation of the effect on quality of life is limited. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We carried out a prospective, multicentre, observational study on the effects of ferric carboxymaltose in the treatment of iron deficiency anaemia in inflammatory bowel disease. Anaemia and iron deficiency were defined according to World Health Organization criteria. Efficacy and safety were evaluated at infusion, at 2 weeks and at 12 weeks. Quality of life was evaluated according to the SIBDQ-9 index. Complete response was defined as anaemia correction or more tan 2 g/dL increase in haemoglobin. RESULTS: A total of 88 courses of ferric carboxymaltose in 72 patients were evaluated. Complete response was observed in 46% of patients at week 2, and 81.2% at week 12. Quality of life improved significatively at week 2 in both complete responders and partial responders (p<0.0005); complete responders showed siginficantly better response (p=0.016). No predictive factor was identified. Only one transient adverse effect was observed; however, this was severe. DISCUSSION: Ferric carboxymaltose showed comparable efficacy to that demonstrated in clinical trials. After only two weeks of treatment, there was a significant improvement in quality of life, with a greater effect observed in those patients with a complete haematologic response. Intravenous iron can very quickly improve quality of life in inflammatory bowel disease.

[The "Seville" Consensus Document on Alternatives to Allogenic Blood Transfusion. Sociedades españolas de Anestesiología (SEDAR), Medicina Intensiva (SEMICYUC), Hematología y Hemoterapia (AEHH), Transfusión sanguínea (SETS) Trombosis y Hemostasia (SETH)]. / Documento «Sevilla¼ de Consenso sobre Alternativas a la Transfusión de Sangre Alogénica.

The Consensus Document on Alternatives to Allogenic Blood Transfusion (AABT) has been drawn up by a panel of experts from 5 scientific societies. The Spanish Societies of Anesthesiology (SEDAR), Critical Care Medicine and Coronary Units (SEMICYUC), Hematology and Hemotherapy (AEHH), Blood Transfusion (SETS) and Thrombosis and Hemostasis (SETH) have sponsored and participated in this Consensus Document. Alternatives to blood transfusion have been divided into pharmacological and non-pharmacological, with 4 modules and 12 topics. The main objective variable was the reduction of allogenic blood transfusions and/or the number of transfused patients. The extent to which this objective was achieved by each AABT was evaluated using the Delphi method, which classifies the grade of recommendation from A (supported by controlled studies) to E (non-controlled studies and expert opinion). The experts concluded that most of the indications for AABT were based on middle or low grades of recommendation, "C", "D", or "E", thus indicating the need for further controlled studies.