Hemoglobin Response Better with IV Iron

Patients on hemodialysis and CKD patients not dialysis have a better hemoglobin response when treated with IV iron than with oral iron, but the difference in effect is stronger in hemodialysis patients, a meta-analysis showed.

The meta-analysis, by investigators at Tel Aviv University in Israel led by Benaya Rozen-Zvi, MD, examined data from 13 trials, of which seven included dialysis patients and six included CKD patients.

Among dialysis patients, hemoglobin levels were a mean 0.83 g/dL greater with IV than oral iron, investigators reported in the American Journal of Kidney Diseases (2008; published online ahead of print). Among CKD patients, hemoglobin levels were a mean 0.31 g/dL greater with IV than oral iron.

With respect to study limitations, the researchers noted that there was significant heterogeneity among the trials and follow-up was only two to three months.

From the November 01, 2008 Issue of Renal and Urology News