Therapeutic effect of iron sucrose and human erythropoietin on renal anemia

Abstract

Objective To determine the efficacy and safety of intravenous iron sucrose and oral iron dextran in renal anemia patients. Methods Sixty renal anemia patients were randomized into two groups:intravenous iron group(IV group, 100 mg iron sucrose twice a week) and oral iron group(oral group, 150 mg iron dextran every day). The changes in hemoglobin (Hb),hematocrit (Hct),serum ferritin (SF),and transferrin saturation (TSAT) were assessed on week 4,8, and 12 after treatment. The maintenance dosages of erythropoietin (EPO) after reaching treatment target and the adverse events were also observed. Results Hb increased after treatment in IV group [(79.87 ± 13.19) g/L to (106.11 ± 12.38) g/L] and oral group [(85.41 ± 11.49) g/L to (94.68 ± 10.06) g/L],and compared with that before treatment, there was significant difference in each group(P< 0.01 ). Also significant difference showed in Hb levels after treatment between two groups(P< 0.01 ). SF and TSAT levels were higher after treatment in IV group than those in oral group (P < 0.01 ). The adverse event was lower in IV group (0) than that in oral group (16.7%,5/30).Conclusions Oral iron dextran which has more adverse events and poor efficacy in curing anemia, can not correct anemia ideally. Meanwhile intravenous iron sucrose has positive effects on renal anemia with low adverse events, and it can be used as a long term iron supplementation in hemodialysis patients. Key words: Anemia; Iron-dextran complex; Erythropoietin; Iron sucrose