Evaluation of iron sucrose and ferric carboxymaltose therapies in patients with iron deficiency anemia

Abstract

Objective: Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) affects the quality of life substantially. Recently, different parenteral iron preparations have been used as intravenous iron supplements. The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the efficacy of intravenous ferric carboxymaltose (FCM) and iron sucrose (IS) treatments in patients with IDA. Materials and Methods: The present study included 180 patients treated with intravenous iron at Kayseri Education and Research Hospital. FCM was administered a maximum of two infusions of 500- or 1000-mg iron. Also, IS was 200 mg administered in up to five infusions in 12 days. In all patients, laboratory evaluations were performed before beginning treatment and 4 weeks after treatment. Results: An expected increase in hemoglobin (Hb) and transferrin saturation (TS) levels was observed in the two groups. Also, the median ferritin increase was 54.50 ng/mL in the FCM group, whereas it was 28.05 ng/mL in the IS group (p<0.001). Likewise, post-treatment ferritin levels increased more significantly in the FCM group than in the IS group (58.15 vs. 29.65 ng/mL, respectively) (p<0.001). Conclusion: Our results show high efficacy and good tolerability of both the treatments. Also, FCM has the advantage of allowing more iron to be administered in fewer infusions and rapid correction of ferritin levels in IDA.