Retrospective Evaluation of Patients With Iron Deficiency Anemia Who Need Parenteral Treatment; Iron Carboxymaltose ? or Iron Sucrose?

Objectives: According to World Health Organization, anemia is defined as the value of Hemoglobin (Hb) <13 g/dl in adult males, <12 g/dl in non-pregnant women and <11 g/dl in pregnant women. Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is the most common cause of anemia. There are limited comparative data in the literature, regarding response to parenteral iron therapy. Data of the patients with parenteral iron therapy for IDA were retrospectively examined in this study to reveal their treatment responses.

Methods: Data of 145 patients underwent parenteral iron therapy for IDA between April 2013-September 2017 at the hematology outpatient clinic of Izmir Bozyaka Training and Research Hospital were reviewed retrospectively. Pre- and post-treatment hemogram and iron parameters were evaluated with a view to examine the efficacy and adverse effects of parenteral Iron Sucrose (IS) and Iron Carboxymaltose (ICM) administrations and compare treatment responses.

Results: 145 patients were included in the study,127(87.5%) female,18(12.5%) male, median age was 43.5(17-87) years. ICM was administered in 65(44.8%), IS in 80(55.2%) patients. Hemoglobin increase was 3.2 g/dl at the end of the 4th week in ICM group while 2.1 g/dl in IS group, which was not statistically significant (p=0.7). Ferritin increase in the first month of treatment displayed a statistically significance in favor of ICM.(48x104, p=0.0001).

Conclusion: Both parenteral treatment options are highly effective and reliable in early response to IDA, and the increase observed in hemoglobin and ferritin levels was more prominent with ICM.