Intravenous versus oral iron supplementation for the treatment of anemia in CKD: systematic review and meta-analysis

Retrospective audit compares screening and treatment of pregnancy-related anaemia in regional New South Wales with Australian guidelines

BACKGROUND

Anaemia during pregnancy is common worldwide. In Australia, approximately 17% of non-pregnant women of reproductive age have anaemia, increasing to a rate of 25% in pregnant women. This study sought to determine the rate of screening for anaemia in pregnancy in regional New South Wales, and to determine whether screening and treatment protocols followed the recommended guidelines.

METHODS

This retrospective study reviewed antenatal and postnatal (48 h) data of women (n = 150) who had a live birth at Bathurst Hospital between 01/01/2020 and 30/04/2020. Demographic data, risk factors for anaemia in pregnancy, antenatal bloods, treatments provided in trimesters one (T1), two (T2) and three (T3), and postpartum complications were recorded. These were compared to the Australian Red Cross Guidelines (ARCG) using descriptive statistics.

RESULTS

Of the women with screening data available (n = 103), they were mostly aged 20-35yrs (79.6%), 23.3% were obese, 97.1% were iron deficient, 17% were anaemic and only a few (5.3%) completed the full pregnancy screening as recommended by the ARCG while a majority completed only partial screenings specifically Hb levels in T1 (56.7%), T2 (44.7%) and T3 (36.6%). Compliance to oral iron was largely undocumented, but constipation was a common side effect among the women. IV iron was administered in 14.0% of women, approximately 1.75x higher than the recommended rate.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provided useful information about compliance to screening and treatment guidelines for anaemia in pregnancy. We identified the need for improved documentation and communication between various health providers to ensure adequate antenatal care to prevent maternal complications during pregnancy. This will improve patient care and encourage further developments in maternal care, bridging the rural health gap.

Cut-off values of haemoglobin and clinical outcomes in incident peritoneal dialysis: the PDTAP study

BACKGROUND

To explore the cut-off values of haemoglobin (Hb) on adverse clinical outcomes in incident peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients based on a national-level database.

METHODS

The observational cohort study was from the Peritoneal Dialysis Telemedicine-assisted Platform (PDTAP) dataset. The primary outcomes were all-cause mortality, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and modified MACE (MACE+). The secondary outcomes were the occurrences of hospitalization, first-episode peritonitis and permanent transfer to haemodialysis (HD).

RESULTS

A total of 2591 PD patients were enrolled between June 2016 and April 2019 and followed up until December 2020. Baseline and time-averaged Hb <100 g/l were associated with all-cause mortality, MACE, MACE+ and hospitalizations. After multivariable adjustments, only time-averaged Hb <100 g/l significantly predicted a higher risk for all-cause mortality {hazard ratio [HR] 1.83 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.19-281], P = .006}, MACE [HR 1.99 (95% CI 1.16-3.40), P = .012] and MACE+ [HR 1.77 (95% CI 1.15-2.73), P = .010] in the total cohort. No associations between Hb and hospitalizations, transfer to HD and first-episode peritonitis were observed. Among patients with Hb ≥100 g/l at baseline, younger age, female, use of iron supplementation, lower values of serum albumin and renal Kt/V independently predicted the incidence of Hb <100 g/l during the follow-up.

CONCLUSION

This study provided real-world evidence on the cut-off value of Hb for predicting poorer outcomes through a nation-level prospective PD cohort.

Maternal Fatigue after Postpartum Anemia Treatment with Intravenous Ferric Carboxymaltose vs. Intravenous Ferric Derisomaltose vs. Oral Ferrous Sulphate: A Randomized Controlled Trial

(1) Background: Postpartum anemia is a common maternal complication and is recognized as a cause of impaired quality of life, reduced cognitive abilities, and fatigue. Efficient iron supplementation for the treatment of postpartum anemia is an essential component of high-quality maternal care. The optimal mode of iron supplementation has not been determined yet, whether oral or intravenous. The objective of this study was to compare postpartum anemia treatment with intravenous ferric carboxymaltose, intravenous ferric derisomaltose, and oral ferrous sulfate. (2) Methods: A single-center, open-label, randomized controlled trial. Women with hemoglobin < 100 g/L within 48 h postpartum were randomly allocated to receive intravenous ferric carboxymaltose, intravenous ferric derisomaltose, or oral ferrous sulfate. Intravenous iron was given in one or two doses, while ferrous sulfate was given as two 80 mg tablets once daily. The primary outcome was maternal fatigue measured by the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI) six weeks postpartum. Hemoglobin, ferritin, and transferrin saturation levels were analyzed as secondary outcomes. A Kruskal-Wallis test was used for group comparison (p < 0.05 significant). (3) Results: Three hundred women were included. The MFI score at six weeks postpartum did not differ between groups (median 38 (inter-quartile range (IQR) 29-47) in the ferric carboxymaltose group, median 34 (IQR 26-42) in the ferric derisomaltose group, and median 36 (IQR 25-47) in the ferrous sulfate group; p = 0.26). Participants receiving oral iron had lower levels of hemoglobin (135 (131-139) vs. 134 (129-139) vs. 131 (125-137) g/L; p = 0.008), ferritin (273 (198-377) vs. 187 (155-246) vs. 24 (17-37) µg/L; p < 0.001) and transferrin saturation (34 (28-38) vs. 30 (23-37) vs. 24 (17-37) %; p < 0.001) than those receiving ferric carboxymaltose or ferric derisomaltose. (4) Conclusions: Intravenous ferric carboxymaltose, intravenous ferric derisomaltose, and oral ferrous sulfate had similar impacts on maternal fatigue at six weeks postpartum despite improved laboratory parameters in the intravenous groups.

Association of oral iron replacement therapy with kidney failure and mortality in CKD patients

Background

Oral iron is the predominant route of iron replacement (IRT) but its benefits and safety are unclear in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Methods

We examined the association of oral IRT vs no IRT with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) and mortality in a national cohort of US Veterans. We identified 17 413 incident new users of oral IRT with estimated glomerular filtration rates <60 mL/min/1.73 m2 and 32 530 controls who did not receive any IRT during 2004-18. We used propensity score-overlap weighting to account for differences in key baseline characteristics associated with the use of oral IRT. We examined associations using competing risk regression and Cox models.

Results

In the cohort of 49 943 patients, 1616 (3.2%) patients experienced ESKD and 28 711 (57%) patients died during a median follow-up of 1.9 years. Oral IRT was not associated with ESKD [subhazard ratio (HR) (95% confidence interval, CI) 1.00 (0.84-1.19), P = .9] and was associated with higher risk of all-cause mortality [HR (95% CI) 1.06 (1.01-1.11), P = .01]. There was significant heterogeneity of treatment effect for mortality, with oral IRT associated with higher mortality in the subgroups of patients without congestive heart failure (CHF), anemia or iron deficiency. In patient with blood hemoglobin <10 g/dL oral IRT was associated with significantly lower mortality.

Conclusion

Oral IRT was associated with lower mortality only in patients with anemia. In patients without anemia, iron deficiency or CHF, the risk-benefit ratio of oral IRT should be further examined.

Efficacy of Oral Versus Injectable Iron in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease: A Two-Year Cross-Sectional Study Conducted at a Rural Teaching Hospital

Aim

Anaemia (particularly iron deficiency) is of important concern in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) as it reflects the outcome of the disease. Current recommendations for the use of intravenous iron (IV) therapy in the management of anaemia in such patients are limited. This study highlights the comparison of oral to intravenous iron in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Materials and methods

This is a prospective case-control study comparing intravenous iron to oral iron in chronic kidney disease patients admitted to the Medicine Department of Acharya Vinoba Bhave Rural Hospital, in central India from October 2018 to October 2020. A total of 150 patients were divided into two groups of 75 each, one receiving oral iron (ferrous sulfate 325 mg tablets) and the other intravenous iron (IV iron sucrose).

Results

Serum iron, serum ferritin, and transferrin saturation (TS) showed increased levels in the IV iron group than in the oral iron group. In the IV group, a statistically significant increase was found in haemoglobin levels after therapy among all stages of kidney disease (p<0.05) while the same was not reported in the oral iron group.

Conclusion

IV iron sucrose therapy had been found to be effective, well-tolerated, and more successful than oral iron treatment in chronic kidney disease patients as far as the parameter of iron deficiency anaemia is concerned.

A Novel Combination Therapy of Erythropoietin and Thrombopoietin to Treat Erythropoietin-Resistance anemia

PURPOSE

Treatment with recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) may correct anemia in patients with chronic kidney disease. However, up to 10% of these patients exhibit EPO resistance or hyporesponsiveness, which may be caused by the depletion of erythroid progenitor cells. Thrombopoietin (TPO) stimulates the self-renewal of stem cells and promotes the growth of early erythroid progenitor cells. The objective of this study was to determine whether the combination of recombinant human TPO (rHuTPO) and rHuEPO could correct the depletion of erythroid precursor cells to treat EPO-resistant anemia.

METHODS

To test our hypothesis, pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) studies of rHuEPO and rHuTPO were performed in healthy rats. Rats received rHuEPO or rHuTPO alone or in combination. Plasma concentrations of rHuTPO and rHuEPO were measured. PD responses, including erythropoietic and thrombopoietic responses, were assessed in peripheral blood.

RESULTS

On one hand, the results demonstrated the synergistic effect of the combination of rHuEPO and rHuTPO on erythropoiesis. Compared with rHuEPO monotherapy, the combination therapies further stimulated the production of red blood cells and hemoglobin. On the other hand, rHuEPO inhibited the platelet production induced by rHuTPO and mitigate the risk of blood clots. Furthermore, we successfully developed a mechanism-based PD model to simultaneously characterize the responses of the two molecules.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, our study indicated that a combination therapy of rHuTPO and rHuEPO could be used to treat EPO-resistant anemia and provided a quantitative basis for further optimizing the combination therapy for clinical use.

Ferric Carboxymaltose Improves the Quality of Life of Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Iron Deficiency without Anaemia

Background: Iron deficiency (ID) without anaemia is a common comorbidity associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that has a negative impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Methods: This multicentre, prospective, observational study examined the response to, safety of and impact on HRQoL of a single 500 mg dose of intravenous ferric carboxymaltose (FCM) in patients with IBD and ID without anaemia. The diagnostic criteria for ID were low serum ferritin (<30 µg/L in the absence of inflammatory activity or <100 µg/L with inflammation) and transferrin saturation index (TSAT) < 16%. The effect on iron levels and HRQoL, according to the health status questionnaires SF-12v2 and EQ-5D, was evaluated 1 month after FCM infusion in an outpatient setting. Results: Of the 105 patients who received FCM, 98 patients completed the study. After 1 month, a single dose of FCM significantly increased serum ferritin, serum iron and TSAT. Importantly, patients reported fewer ID symptoms and problems on all EQ-5D dimensions. They also had higher EQ-5D visual analogue scale and SF-12v2 scores after treatment. FCM had similar clinical effects on men and women and on patients with Crohn’s disease (n = 66) and ulcerative colitis (n = 32). Conclusion: A single dose of FCM rapidly restored iron parameters and significantly improved patients’ symptoms and HRQoL at 1 month after treatment.

Efficacy and safety of intravenous iron with different frequencies for renal anaemia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intravenous iron supplementation in patients with renal anaemia.

METHODS

We searched the PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science from their inception until 17 September 2021, for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to evaluate the efficacy and safety of intravenous iron at different frequencies. The observed efficacy indicators included transfer saturation (TSAT), serum ferritin (SF) and haemoglobin (HGB). Outcomes of interest included allergies, infections, all-cause mortality and cardiovascular events.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Of the 751 eligible studies, 7 RCTs met the inclusion criteria. The RCTs showed that there were no significant differences between the low-frequency high-dose group (1-2 doses, >200 mg/dose) and the high-frequency low-dose group (4-5 doses, ≤200 mg/dose) in the increase in TSAT (WMD = 1.90; 95% CI = -2.04 to 5.84; I²  = 0%), SF (WMD = 15.70; 95% CI = -32.20 to 70.61; I²  = 0%) and HGB (WMD = -0.00; 95% CI = -0.43 to 0.42; I²  = 0%). There was also no significant difference in the occurrence of outcome events, including allergies (RR = 1.84; 95% CI = 0.95 to 3.57; I²  = 45%), infections (RR = 0.61; 95% CI = 0.20-1.86; I²  = 0%), cardiovascular events (RR = 0.88; 95% CI = 0.67-1.15; I²  = 48%) and all-cause mortality (RR = 0.74; 95% CI = 0.40-1.35; I²  = 0%).

WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION

Frequencies of intravenous iron supplementation with similar doses share similar safety and efficacy in patients with renal anaemia. However, a single dose or two doses of intravenous iron are more cost-effective and patient friendly. These findings may provide evidence for the clinical application of intravenous iron supplementation for patients with renal anaemia.

Long-Term Intravenous Iron Therapy and Morbidity in Hemodialysis Patients

Objective: The aim of this study was to describe long-term intravenous iron therapy-associated morbidity in hemodialysis patients from a single Hemodialysis Center. Material and methods: We conducted an observational retrospective cohort study from 01 January to 31 December 2015. Two hundred and twenty prevalent patients on maintenance hemodialysis therapy for at least 12 months (mean age 53±13 years, 56% males, median hemodialysis vintage 5 (1-26) years) were included. Diabetic nephropathy as primary kidney disease, pregnancy and incomplete data records regarding study aims were exclusion criteria. We compared the frequency, duration and causes of hospitalizations in iron sucrose-treated versus gender and age-matched iron non-treated patients. Differences between groups were assessed using Chi-square and Kruskal-Wallis H tests. A p value μ0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: From the entire cohort, 68% were iron-treated. One in five patients were treated with higher doses (400 mg monthly), and lower doses were used (100-200 mg monthly) in 80% of patients. There were no differences regarding the rates of admission between the two groups (56/100 patient-years in the iron sucrose-treated vs. 50/100 patient-years in the iron-untreated group, p=0.1). Still, the hospitalization rate significantly increased with the administered iron dose (0.4 vs. 0.7 vs. 0.8/100 patient-years for 100 mg vs. 200 mg vs. 400 mg monthly, respectively, p=0.006). Hospitalization rates due to infectious and cardiovascular diseases were similar for both groups (12/100 patient-years vs. 5.7/100 patient-years, p=0.3 and 11.3/100 patient-years vs. 4.3/100 patient-years, p=0.2, respectively). Conclusion: Higher doses of intravenous iron sucrose appear to be associated with an elevated risk of hospitalization. Nonetheless, long-term intravenous iron therapy seems to have a limited influence in terms of specific cause of morbidity in non-diabetic hemodialysis patients.

Treatment of Iron Deficiency Anemia in CKD and End-Stage Kidney Disease

Iron deficiency is common in individuals with chronic kidney disease and plays a major role in the development of anemia. Oral and intravenous iron agents are both available to replete iron in patients with chronic kidney disease diagnosed with iron deficiency. The choice of which agent to use is most often dictated by goals of therapy, tolerability, convenience, and response to prior therapy. Diminished absorption of iron in the gastrointestinal tract and a high incidence of gastrointestinal adverse effects can reduce the efficacy of oral iron agents, necessitating the use of i.v. iron formulations to treat iron deficiency anemia, particularly in patients requiring kidney replacement therapy. Newer oral agents may help to overcome these limitations and help treat iron deficiency in those not requiring kidney replacement therapy. Recent studies have provided new evidence that more aggressive repletion of iron in patients with chronic kidney disease requiring kidney replacement therapy may provide benefits with respect to anemia management and hard clinical outcomes such as cardiovascular disease and survival.

Active deprescribing program in chronic kidney disease patients undergoing haemodialysis

BACKGROUND

Deprescribing is gaining attention of medical community to address polypharmacy. Existing deprescribing tools were not validated in haemodialysis population. We designed this study to assess the pill burden of patients undergoing haemodialysis and to measure the outcome after implementation of an active deprescribing program.

METHODS

An evidence based deprescription tool was formulated. All patients who were on dialysis for 3 months or more were eligible to participate. Medication reconciliation followed by medication list evaluation for appropriateness was done for all patients. All inappropriate medications were discontinued followed by monitoring for 6 months for complications. Primary outcome was the average number of medications and pills per patient before and 12 weeks after implementation of deprescribing program.

RESULTS

We enrolled 150 patients to the active deprescribing program. Mean age was 60.4 ± 10.9 years. After deprescription, there were significant reduction in the number of medications from 11 (Interquartile range 8-13.25) to 8 (IQR 6-9) (p < .001) and reduction in the number of pills from 16 (IQR 12.75-21.25) to 11 (IQR 8-14.25) (p < .001). Pill burden accessed using Living with Medication Questionnaire-Visual Analogue Scale score also had a significant reduction from 7 (IQR 5-8) to 4 (IQR 3-5) (p < .001).

CONCLUSION

Polypharmacy is a significant problem in haemodialysis patients, which can lead to poor quality of life and health hazards due to side effects of medications. Implementation of a proactive deprescribing program can cut down polypharmacy to a significant extent.

Patient Factors Associated with Prescribing of Iron for IV Administration: A Descriptive Study

BACKGROUND

IV administration of iron is appropriate for the treatment of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) when orally administered iron has not been effective, tolerated, or clinically appropriate. In Calgary, Alberta, high levels of IV iron utilization required review, because of significant health care resource utilization, high cost, and reduced accessibility.

OBJECTIVES

The primary objective was to describe the population of adult patients in Calgary with estimated glomerular filtration rate greater than or equal to 30 mL/min/1.73 m² for whom IV iron was dispensed from acute care facilities, in terms of pretreatment laboratory data, previous use of oral iron, and treatment location, as well as to characterize dose and product selection for IV iron. The secondary objective was to determine the proportion of inpatients whose treatment was in alignment with the Toward Optimized Practice clinical practice guideline for IDA.

METHODS

A retrospective review of electronic charts was used to obtain data about patients with a first dose of IV iron dispensed in Calgary hospitals between March 1 and December 31, 2018. The data were analyzed descriptively.

RESULTS

A total of 1352 patients met the inclusion criteria. These patients received a total of 3532 doses of IV iron, 97.1% of which were iron sucrose, at a median of 300 mg per infusion. Laboratory indices assessed before the first infusion were hemoglobin (mean 92, standard deviation [SD] 19.6 g/L), mean corpuscular volume (mean 81 [SD 10.3] fL), and ferritin (median 18 [interquartile range 9-48] μg/L). Among the included patients, 233 (17.2%) had oral iron dispensed within 90 days before their first IV dose of iron. Only 146 (20.1%) of the 726 inpatients had treatment that was in alignment with the Toward Optimized Practice IDA guideline.

CONCLUSIONS

There was substantial variation in baseline hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume, and ferritin, and in the use of oral iron before initiation of IV iron treatment. Provision of educational tools and stewardship initiatives may help in ensuring alignment of iron prescribing with current guidelines.

The Impact of Iron Supplementation for Treating Anemia in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease: Results from Pairwise and Network Meta-Analyses of Randomized Controlled Trials

After relative erythropoietin deficiency, iron deficiency is the second most important contributing factor for anemia in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. Iron supplementation is a crucial part of the treatment of anemia in CKD patients, and intravenous (IV) iron supplementation is considered to be superior to per os (PO) iron supplementation. The differences between the available formulations are poorly characterized. This report presents results from pairwise and network meta-analyses carried out after a comprehensive search in sources of published and unpublished studies, according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) recommendations (International prospective register of systematic reviews PROSPERO reference ID: CRD42020148155). Meta-analytic calculations were performed for the outcome of non-response to iron supplementation (i.e., hemoglobin (Hgb) increase of <0.5–1.0 g/dL, or initiation/intensification of erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA) therapy, or increase/change of iron supplement, or requirements of blood transfusion). A total of 34 randomized controlled trials (RCT) were identified, providing numerical data for analyses covering 93.7% (n = 10.097) of the total study population. At the network level, iron supplementation seems to have a more protective effect against the outcome of non-response before the start of dialysis than once dialysis is initiated, and some preparations seem to be more potent (e.g., ferumoxytol, ferric carboxymaltose), compared to the rest of iron supplements assessed (surface under the cumulative ranking area (SUCRA) > 0.8). This study provides parameters for adequately following-up patients requiring iron supplementation, by presenting the most performing preparations, and, indirectly, by making it possible to identify good responders among all patients treated with these medicines.

Intravenous iron: a framework for changing the management of iron deficiency

For decades intravenous iron was considered dangerous. Newer formulations with carbohydrate cores binding elemental iron more tightly allow complete iron replacement within 15-60 min in one visit. Meta-analyses and prospective comparisons of different formulations support equivalent safety to placebo with less toxicity than oral iron. Of the available formulations, the preponderance of published evidence supports equal safety and efficacy. In this Viewpoint, we report evidence supporting repositioning of intravenous iron to the frontline in multiple disorders with iron deficiency, which include heart failure, chronic kidney disease, inflammatory bowel disease, patient blood management in the perioperative period, and obstetrics and gynaecology. We have also highlighted neonatal evidence supporting the inadequacy of oral iron in late pregnancy, a critical period of iron need for normal foetal brain development. Physicians should consider prioritising the use of intravenous iron rather than oral iron as a treatment for iron deficiency in some of these clinical scenarios.

Iron Administration, Infection, and Anemia Management in CKD: Untangling the Effects of Intravenous Iron Therapy on Immunity and Infection Risk

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are at increased risk for infection, attributable to immune dysfunction, increased exposure to infectious agents, loss of cutaneous barriers, comorbid conditions, and treatment-related factors (eg, hemodialysis and immunosuppressant therapy). Because iron plays a vital role in pathogen reproduction and host immunity, it is biologically plausible that intravenous iron therapy and/or iron deficiency influence infection risk in CKD. Available data from preclinical experiments, observational studies, and randomized controlled trials are summarized to explore the interplay between intravenous iron and infection risk among patients with CKD, particularly those receiving maintenance hemodialysis. The current evidence base, including data from a recent randomized controlled trial, suggests that proactive judicious use of intravenous iron (in a manner that minimizes the accumulation of non-transferrin-bound iron) beneficially replaces iron stores while avoiding a clinically relevant effect on infection risk. In the absence of an urgent clinical need, intravenous iron therapy should be avoided in patients with active infection. Although serum ferritin concentration and transferrin saturation can help guide clinical decision making about intravenous iron therapy, definition of an optimal iron status and its precise determination in individual patients remain clinically challenging in CKD and warrant additional study.

Infectious complications and mortality associated with the use of IV iron therapy: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Parental iron is used to optimize hemoglobin and enhance erythropoiesis in end-stage renal disease along with erythropoietin-stimulating agents. Safety of iron has been debated extensively and there is no definite evidence whether parenteral iron increases the risk of infections and mortality. We performed this meta-analysis to evaluate the incidence of infectious complications, hospitalizations and mortality with use of parenteral iron.

METHODS

Medical electronic databases [PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science, and cochrane central register for controlled clinical trials (CENTRAL)] were queried for studies that investigated the association between intravenous iron administration and infection in hemodialysis patients. 24 studies (8 Randomized control trials (RCTs) and 16 observational studies) were considered for qualitative and quantitative analysis.

RESULTS

All-cause mortality Data from 6 RCTs show that high-dose IV iron conferred 17% less all-cause mortality compared to controls; however, this outcome was not statistically significant (OR = 0.83, CI [0.7, 1.01], p = 0.07). Nine observational studies were pooled under the random effects model due to significant heterogeneity (I² = 83%, p < 0.001). The overall HR showed increased risk of all-cause mortality in the high-dose group but was statistically non-significant (HR = 1.1, CI [1, 1.22], p = 0.06). Infections Four RCTs with no heterogeneity among their data (I² = 0%, p = 0.61). Under the fixed effect model, there was no difference in the infection rate between high-dose iron and control group (OR = 0.97, CI [0.82, 1.16], p = 0.77); eight observational studies with significant heterogeneity and utilizing random effects model. Summary HR showed increased yet non-significant risk of infection in the high-dose group (HR = 1.13, CI [0.99, 1.28], p = 0.07) Hospitalization 1 RCT and six observational studies provided data for the rate of all-cause hospitalization. There was marked heterogeneity among observational studies. RCT showed no significant difference between high-dose iron and controls in the rate of hospitalization (OR = 1.03, CI [0.87, 1.23], p = 0.71). Summary HR for observational data showed increased rate of hospitalization in the high-dose group; however, this effect was not statistically significant (HR = 1.11, CI [0.99, 1.24], p = 0.07). Cardiovascular events One RCT compared the rate of adverse cardiovascular events between high-dose and low-dose iron. No significant difference was observed between the two groups (22.3% vs 25.6%, p = 0.12). Six heterogeneous observational studies (I² = 65%, p < 0.001) reported on the rate of cardiovascular events. No significant difference was observed between high-dose iron and controls (HR = 1.18, CI [0.89, 1.57], p = 0.24).

CONCLUSION

High-dose parenteral iron does not seem to be associated with higher risk of infection, all-cause mortality, increased hospitalization or increased cardiovascular events on analysis of RCTs. Observational studies show increased risk for all-cause mortality, infections and hospitalizations that were not statistically significant and were associated with significant heterogeneity.

Novel Oral Iron Therapies for Iron Deficiency Anemia in Chronic Kidney Disease

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a frequent complication of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and is associated with adverse outcomes in these patients. Patients with CKD and IDA remain largely undertreated. Conventional oral iron agents are insufficiently effective due to poor absorption and cause gastrointestinal side effects; thus, novel oral iron preparations are needed. This article covers current treatment guidelines for patients with anemia and CKD and clinical trial data for iron-repletion agents currently in use, as well as for novel oral iron therapies in development. Ferric citrate, a novel oral iron-repletion agent approved for patients with non-dialysis-dependent CKD and IDA, demonstrated improvements in hemoglobin levels and iron parameters, with good tolerability in patients with non-dialysis-dependent CKD. When used as a phosphate binder, ferric citrate also improves hemoglobin and iron parameters in dialysis-dependent CKD, but additional trials are needed to evaluate its efficacy as an iron-repletion agent in this setting. Other novel oral iron preparations in development for IDA in patients with CKD include ferric maltol, which is approved in Europe and the United States for IDA in adult patients, and sucrosomial iron, which has been evaluated in IDA associated with CKD and several other clinical settings.

Considerations and controversies in managing chronic kidney disease: An update

PURPOSE

Current considerations and controversies surrounding the management of chronic kidney disease (CKD) are reviewed.

SUMMARY

Patients diagnosed with CKD require a unique clinical approach to prevent medication toxicities and ensure appropriate management of disease-progressing comorbidities, and they require attention to commonly occurring complications that may affect disease control and impact quality of life, including anemia and CKD-bone-mineral disorder (CKD-BMD). Many CKD-related comorbidities put patients at increased cardiovascular risk, including diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. Although there are clinical guidelines to help clinicians manage CKD and its related complications and comorbidities, there are many clinical controversies surrounding optimal treatment. Recent literature and clinical studies bring into question multiple controversies regarding the optimal management approach to the patient living with CKD, including the appropriateness of iron and erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) for the treatment of anemia and vitamin D supplementation for the prevention of CKD-BMD. While available guidelines can provide clinicians with guidance regarding the appropriate management of the patient with CKD, they often differ dramatically in the optimal approach to the management of comorbidities and complications. For a patient with CKD, the pharmacist has an important role to ensure optimal outcomes, by appropriately managing comorbid conditions and optimizing drug dosing.

CONCLUSION

Multiple controversies regarding the optimal management of patients with CKD, including the appropriateness of iron and ESAs for treatment of anemia and vitamin D supplementation for the prevention of CKD-BMD. Available guidelines differ dramatically in the optimal approach to the management of comorbidities and complications.

A paper-based colorimetric microfluidic sensor fabricated by a novel spray painting prototyping process for iron analysis

A novel, simple, and low-cost spray painting technique has been developed for the fabrication of microfluidic paper-based devices. The devices that we developed utilize aerosol spray paint to build hydrophobic barriers and employ a hole puncher to obtain paper-based patterned layers and paper dots without using any specialized instruments (e.g., without a laser cutter). The entire manufacturing process is extremely simple, inexpensive, and rapid, which means that it can be applied broadly. Furthermore, the application of the device to iron detection was demonstrated. A linear relationship between the colour value and the iron concentration was observed from 0 to 0.02 g/L. The developed microfluidic paper-based device for iron detection exhibited a low detection limit (0.00090 g/L), good selectivity, and acceptable recovery.

Iron Deficiency Anemia in Chronic Kidney Disease

Iron deficiency anemia is a common complication of chronic kidney disease (CKD). CKD patients suffer from both absolute and functional iron deficiency. Absolute iron deficiency is defined by severely reduced or absent iron stores, while functional iron deficiency is defined by adequate iron stores but insufficient iron availability for incorporation into erythroid precursors. This is due to increased levels of hepcidin. Anemia in CKD is associated with an increased risk of morbidity and mortality. The association between anemia and mortality may be related to the severity of anemia. All CKD patients should be screened for anemia during the initial evaluation for CKD. Criteria used to define iron deficiency are different among CKD compared to normal renal function. Among CKD patients, absolute iron deficiency is defined when the transferrin saturation (TSAT) is ≤20% and the serum ferritin concentration is ≤100 ng/mL among predialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients or ≤200 ng/mL among hemodialysis patients. Functional iron deficiency, also known as iron-restricted erythropoiesis, is characterized by TSAT ≤20% and elevated ferritin levels. Iron supplementation is recommended for all CKD patients with anemia. There is general agreement according to guidelines that intravenous (i.v.) iron supplementation is the preferred method for CKD patients on dialysis (CKD stage 5D) and either i.v. or oral iron is recommended for patients with CKD ND (CKD stages 3-5). In this review we discuss the evidence base for these recommendations.

Parenteral versus oral iron therapy for adults and children with chronic kidney disease

BACKGROUND

The anaemia seen in chronic kidney disease (CKD) may be exacerbated by iron deficiency. Iron can be provided through different routes, with advantages and drawbacks of each route. It remains unclear whether the potential harms and additional costs of intravenous (IV) compared with oral iron are justified. This is an update of a review first published in 2012.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the benefits and harms of IV iron supplementation compared with oral iron for anaemia in adults and children with CKD, including participants on dialysis, with kidney transplants and CKD not requiring dialysis.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched the Cochrane Kidney and Transplant Register of Studies up to 7 December 2018 through contact with the Information Specialist using search terms relevant to this review. Studies in the Register are identified through searches of CENTRAL, MEDLINE, and EMBASE, conference proceedings, the International Clinical Trials Register (ICTRP) Search Portal, and ClinicalTrials.gov.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-RCTs in which IV and oral routes of iron administration were compared in adults and children with CKD.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two authors independently assessed study eligibility, risk of bias, and extracted data. Results were reported as risk ratios (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) for dichotomous outcomes. For continuous outcomes the mean difference (MD) was used or standardised mean difference (SMD) if different scales had been used. Statistical analyses were performed using the random-effects model. Subgroup analysis and univariate meta-regression were performed to investigate between study differences. The certainty of the evidence was assessed using GRADE.

MAIN RESULTS

We included 39 studies (3852 participants), 11 of which were added in this update. A low risk of bias was attributed to 20 (51%) studies for sequence generation, 14 (36%) studies for allocation concealment, 22 (56%) studies for attrition bias and 20 (51%) for selective outcome reporting. All studies were at a high risk of performance bias. However, all studies were considered at low risk of detection bias because the primary outcome in all studies was laboratory-based and unlikely to be influenced by lack of blinding.There is insufficient evidence to suggest that IV iron compared with oral iron makes any difference to death (all causes) (11 studies, 1952 participants: RR 1.12, 95% CI 0.64, 1.94) (absolute effect: 33 participants per 1000 with IV iron versus 31 per 1000 with oral iron), the number of participants needing to start dialysis (4 studies, 743 participants: RR 0.81, 95% CI 0.41, 1.61) or the number needing blood transfusions (5 studies, 774 participants: RR 0.86, 95% CI 0.55, 1.34) (absolute effect: 87 per 1,000 with IV iron versus 101 per 1,000 with oral iron). These analyses were assessed as having low certainty evidence. It is uncertain whether IV iron compared with oral iron reduces cardiovascular death because the certainty of this evidence was very low (3 studies, 206 participants: RR 1.71, 95% CI 0.41 to 7.18). Quality of life was reported in five studies with four reporting no difference between treatment groups and one reporting improvement in participants treated with IV iron.IV iron compared with oral iron may increase the numbers of participants, who experience allergic reactions or hypotension (15 studies, 2607 participants: RR 3.56, 95% CI 1.88 to 6.74) (absolute harm: 24 per 1000 with IV iron versus 7 per 1000) but may reduce the number of participants with all gastrointestinal adverse effects (14 studies, 1986 participants: RR 0.47, 95% CI 0.33 to 0.66) (absolute benefit: 150 per 1000 with IV iron versus 319 per 1000). These analyses were assessed as having low certainty evidence.IV iron compared with oral iron may increase the number of participants who achieve target haemoglobin (13 studies, 2206 participants: RR 1.71, 95% CI 1.43 to 2.04) (absolute benefit: 542 participants per 1,000 with IV iron versus 317 per 1000 with oral iron), increased haemoglobin (31 studies, 3373 participants: MD 0.72 g/dL, 95% CI 0.39 to 1.05); ferritin (33 studies, 3389 participants: MD 224.84 µg/L, 95% CI 165.85 to 283.83) and transferrin saturation (27 studies, 3089 participants: MD 7.69%, 95% CI 5.10 to 10.28), and may reduce the dose required of erythropoietin-stimulating agents (ESAs) (11 studies, 522 participants: SMD -0.72, 95% CI -1.12 to -0.31) while making little or no difference to glomerular filtration rate (8 studies, 1052 participants: 0.83 mL/min, 95% CI -0.79 to 2.44). All analyses were assessed as having low certainty evidence. There were moderate to high degrees of heterogeneity in these analyses but in meta-regression, definite reasons for this could not be determined.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

The included studies provide low certainty evidence that IV iron compared with oral iron increases haemoglobin, ferritin and transferrin levels in CKD participants, increases the number of participants who achieve target haemoglobin and reduces ESA requirements. However, there is insufficient evidence to determine whether IV iron compared with oral iron influences death (all causes), cardiovascular death and quality of life though most studies reported only short periods of follow-up. Adverse effects were reported in only 50% of included studies. We therefore suggest that further studies that focus on patient-centred outcomes with longer follow-up periods are needed to determine if the use of IV iron is justified on the basis of reductions in ESA dose and cost, improvements in patient quality of life, and with few serious adverse effects.

Ethnic prevalence of anemia and predictors of anemia among chronic kidney disease patients at a tertiary hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa

INTRODUCTION

Anemia is a complication of chronic kidney disease (CKD) that can greatly impact on its prognosis. However, the risk factors for anemia, including the influence of ethnicity, are not well established among the CKD population in Johannesburg.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study of 353 adult CKD patients attending the renal outpatient clinic of the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital (Johannesburg, South Africa) from June 1, 2016 to December 30, 2016. Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were obtained using a proforma. Blood samples were collected for serum electrolytes and hematological parameters. Predictors of low hemoglobin and iron deficiency anemia (IDA) were evaluated using multivariable binary logistic regression.

RESULTS

The mean age and prevalence of anemia among the CKD participants were 55.3±15.0 years and 43.18% (95% CI: 38.1%-48.4%), respectively. Blacks had the highest prevalence of anemia (46.9%), while Indians/Asians had the lowest (18.2%). Although the odds of anemia was 3.8-fold higher (odds ratio =3.8, P-value =0.059) among CKD stage V participants as compared to CKD stage I, the relationship between anemia and stages of CKD was non-linear. Diabetes mellitus (odds ratio =2.31, P-value =0.005) had a strong association with anemia among the CKD participants.

CONCLUSION

Almost half of the CKD participants were anemic, and the odds of anemia did not increase linearly with increasing severity of CKD. There was a marked ethnic disparity in anemia prevalence. Our study highlights the need for risk-based management of anemia among CKD patients.

Switching iron sucrose to ferric carboxymaltose associates to better control of iron status in hemodialysis patients

BACKGROUND

Although the efficacy of iron sucrose (IS) and ferric carboxymaltose (FCM) in treating anemia in hemodialysis (HD) patients has been studied individually, a comparison of these two intravenous iron formulations has not yet been performed in HD patients.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective audit on records of 221 stable HD patients from different HD centers in the Netherlands, who were switched from IS to FCM on a 1:1 ratio. To assess the effect of the switch on iron status parameters, data from 3 time points before and 3 time points after the switch were analyzed using linear mixed effects models. Subanalyses were done in 2 subgroups of patients anemic or iron deficient at baseline.

RESULTS

Hemoglobin increased in all groups (anemic [1.4 g/dL, P < 0.001] iron deficient [0.6 g/dL, P < 0.001]), while the weekly iron dose was significantly lower when patients received FCM compared to IS (48 vs 55 mg/week, P = 0.04). Furthermore, serum ferritin and transferrin saturation increased in all groups (anemic [64 μg/L, 5.0%, P < 0.001] iron deficient [76 μg/L, 3.6%, P < 0.001]). Finally, the darbepoetin α dose decreased significantly in all groups (anemic [- 16 μg/wk., P = 0.01] iron deficient [- 11 μg/wk., P < 0.001]).

CONCLUSIONS

In this real-life study in HD patients, a switch from IS to FCM resulted in an improvement of iron status parameters despite a lower weekly dose of FCM. Furthermore, the ESA dose was reduced during FCM, while hemoglobin levels increased.

Impact of Inflammation on Ferritin, Hepcidin and the Management of Iron Deficiency Anemia in Chronic Kidney Disease

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a major problem in chronic kidney disease (CKD), causing increased mortality. Ferritin stores iron, representing iron status. Hepcidin binds to ferroportin, thereby inhibiting iron absorption/efflux. Inflammation in CKD increases ferritin and hepcidin independent of iron status, which reduce iron availability. While intravenous iron therapy (IIT) is superior to oral iron therapy (OIT) in CKD patients with inflammation, OIT is as effective as IIT in those without. Inflammation reduces predictive values of ferritin and hepcidin for iron status and responsiveness to iron therapy. Upper limit of ferritin to predict iron overload is higher in CKD patients with inflammation than in those without. However, magnetic resonance imaging studies show lower cutoff levels of serum ferritin to predict iron overload in dialysis patients with apparent inflammation than upper limit of ferritin proposed by international guidelines. Compared to CKD patients with inflammation, optimal ferritin levels for IDA are lower in those without, requiring reduced iron dose and leading to decreased mortality. The management of IDA should differ between CKD patients with and without inflammation and include minimization of inflammation. Further studies are needed to determine the impact of inflammation on ferritin, hepcidin and therapeutic strategy for IDA in CKD.

Effect of frequency of intravenous iron administration on hemoglobin variability in maintenance hemodialysis patients

TARGET

To observe the effect on hemoglobin (Hb) variability with different treatment frequencies of intravenous iron in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients.

METHODS

There were 41 MHD patients enrolled in the cohort. The patients were separated into two groups randomly. The baseline data were collected after oral iron agents for 1 month (wash out). There were two methods of intravenous iron administration, either continuous or intermittent. For continuous administration (CA), 100 mg sucrose iron agents were given during every HD session with total dose of 1000 mg. For intermittent administration (IA), 100 mg sucrose iron agents were given once every week with the same total dose of 1000 mg. The protocol were designed to do a follow-up of 7 months, which included two to three-month steps of different administrations of intravenous iron and 1 month of wash-out period by oral iron agents between two steps, respectively. Patients in Group one (G1) administrated iron agents by CA at the first step and IA at the second step. Patients in Group two (G2) did IA and then transfer to CA. The clinical parameters including Hb, serum ferritin (SF), transferrin saturation (TAST), and doses of recombined human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) were detected and recorded during follow-up period. The standard deviation of Hb (Hb-SD) and coefficient variation of Hb (Hb-CV) were calculated. The baseline data were compared between two groups. The parameters on month 3 and 7 were compared with those on month 0 in two groups, respectively. The effects of both CA and IA on Hb-SD and Hb-CV were compared by two-stage cross-comparison general linear model (GLM) method.

RESULTS

There were 34 patients (82.9%) completed the trail. The amounts of cases, rates of gender and primary diseases, the mean value of age, Hb, SF, TSAT, and doses of rHuEPO on baseline in two groups were similar (p > 0.05). The SF levels in two groups increased significantly during follow-up period, which were 235.4 ± 51.8 ng/ml on month 0, 362.4 ± 140.2 ng/ml on month 3, and 315.0 ± 97.73 ng/ml on month 7 in G1 (p < 0.01), and 250.5 ± 37.8 ng/ml, 332.2 ± 118.9 ng/ml, and 347.4 ± 124.3 ng/ml in G2 (p < 0.01), respectively. Compared to CA, IA could decline the Hb-SD (5.93 ± 3.97 g/l vs. 7.36 ± 3.81 g/l, F = 4.377, p = 0.044) and Hb-CV (0.054 ± 0.035 vs. 0.069 ± 0.030, F = 7.042, p = 0.012) significantly. The mean levels of Hb and doses of rHuEPO were similar between CA and IA.

CONCLUSION

The administration of intravenous iron by CA or IA has the similar effects on iron supplement and anemia treatment. However, IA may be more benefit to Hb variability than CA in MHD patients.

Iron therapy for managing anaemia in chronic kidney disease

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Iron deficiency is a major contributory cause to the development of anaemia in chronic kidney disease (CKD), and thus, iron replacement therapy plays a critical role in the management of this condition. The two main routes for administering iron are oral and intravenous, and there have been a number of new publications relevant to both routes of administration.

RECENT FINDINGS

Recent developments on the topic of iron management in CKD include the introduction of new oral iron preparations, as well as two recent meta-analyses on iron therapy in CKD (one on oral versus intravenous iron, and one on high- versus low-dose intravenous iron in haemodialysis patients). There is also increasing interest in other strategies to improve iron availability, such as intradialytic iron, hypoxia-inducible factor stabilization and antihepcidin strategies.

SUMMARY

Even despite the latest publications in this field, we are still left with serious gaps in our evidence base on how best to provide supplemental iron to CKD patients. Most of the evidence suggests that intravenous iron is superior to oral iron in increasing haemoglobin and minimizing the use of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents, but the safety of intravenous iron remains a controversy. The PIVOTAL study will hopefully provide informative data to fill some of the gap in the evidence-base and inform best clinical practice.

Safety of intravenous ferric carboxymaltose versus oral iron in patients with nondialysis-dependent CKD: an analysis of the 1-year FIND-CKD trial

Background. The evidence base regarding the safety of intravenous (IV) iron therapy in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is incomplete and largely based on small studies of relatively short duration.

Methods. FIND-CKD (ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT00994318) was a 1-year, open-label, multicenter, prospective study of patients with nondialysis-dependent CKD, anemia and iron deficiency randomized (1:1:2) to IV ferric carboxymaltose (FCM), targeting higher (400–600 µg/L) or lower (100–200 µg/L) ferritin, or oral iron. A post hoc analysis of adverse event rates per 100 patient-years was performed to assess the safety of FCM versus oral iron over an extended period.

Results. The safety population included 616 patients. The incidence of one or more adverse events was 91.0, 100.0 and 105.0 per 100 patient-years in the high ferritin FCM, low ferritin FCM and oral iron groups, respectively. The incidence of adverse events with a suspected relation to study drug was 15.9, 17.8 and 36.7 per 100 patient-years in the three groups; for serious adverse events, the incidence was 28.2, 27.9 and 24.3 per 100 patient-years. The incidence of cardiac disorders and infections was similar between groups. At least one ferritin level ≥800 µg/L occurred in 26.6% of high ferritin FCM patients, with no associated increase in adverse events. No patient with ferritin ≥800 µg/L discontinued the study drug due to adverse events. Estimated glomerular filtration rate remained the stable in all groups.

Conclusions. These results further support the conclusion that correction of iron deficiency anemia with IV FCM is safe in patients with nondialysis-dependent CKD.

Whole-body iron transport and metabolism: Mechanistic, multi-scale model to improve treatment of anemia in chronic kidney disease

Iron plays vital roles in the human body including enzymatic processes, oxygen-transport via hemoglobin and immune response. Iron metabolism is characterized by ~95% recycling and minor replenishment through diet. Anemia of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is characterized by a lack of synthesis of erythropoietin leading to reduced red blood cell (RBC) formation and aberrant iron recycling. Treatment of CKD anemia aims to normalize RBC count and serum hemoglobin. Clinically, the various fluxes of iron transport and accumulation are not measured so that changes during disease (e.g., CKD) and treatment are unknown. Unwanted iron accumulation in patients is known to lead to adverse effects. Current whole-body models lack the mechanistic details of iron transport related to RBC maturation, transferrin (Tf and TfR) dynamics and assume passive iron efflux from macrophages. Hence, they are not predictive of whole-body iron dynamics and cannot be used to design individualized patient treatment. For prediction, we developed a mechanistic, multi-scale computational model of whole-body iron metabolism incorporating four compartments containing major pools of iron and RBC generation process. The model accounts for multiple forms of iron in vivo, mechanisms involved in iron uptake and release and their regulation. Furthermore, the model is interfaced with drug pharmacokinetics to allow simulation of treatment dynamics. We calibrated our model with experimental and clinical data from peer-reviewed literature to reliably simulate CKD anemia and the effects of current treatment involving combination of epoietin-alpha and iron dextran. This in silico whole-body model of iron metabolism predicts that a year of treatment can potentially lead to 90% downregulation of ferroportin (FPN) levels, 15-fold increase in iron stores with only a 20% increase in iron flux from the reticulo-endothelial system (RES). Model simulations quantified unmeasured iron fluxes, previously unknown effects of treatment on FPN-level and iron stores in the RES. This mechanistic whole-body model can be the basis for future studies that incorporate iron metabolism together with related clinical experiments. Such an approach could pave the way for development of effective personalized treatment of CKD anemia.

Iron Treatment Strategies in Nondialysis CKD

In contrast to managing patients on hemodialysis in whom iron strategies are more focused on intravenous iron, nondialysis chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients may receive either oral or intravenous iron. There are advantages and disadvantages for both strategies. Oral iron is simple and cheap to administer and does not require hospital visits, but is poorly absorbed in advanced CKD and is associated with unpleasant gastrointestinal side effects. Intravenous iron, on the other hand, guarantees iron bioavailability and avoids problems of variable absorption of iron from the gastrointestinal tract, but requires specialist clinic services. Intravenous iron also is associated with hypersensitivity reactions, albeit very rarely. The efficacy of intravenous iron in improving hemoglobin, ferritin, and transferrin saturation is well established, and superior to oral iron, but the long-term safety of this route of administration has not been established and there are theoretical concerns that patients may be exposed to increased oxidative stress and exacerbation of infections. The final choice of iron management strategy will depend on individual physician preference, as well as the facilities that are available.

Comparative Evaluation of U.S. Brand and Generic Intravenous Sodium Ferric Gluconate Complex in Sucrose Injection: In Vitro Cellular Uptake

Iron deficiency anemia is a common clinical consequence for people who suffer from chronic kidney disease, especially those requiring dialysis. Intravenous (IV) iron therapy is a widely accepted safe and efficacious treatment for iron deficiency anemia. Numerous IV iron drugs have been approved by U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), including a single generic product, sodium ferric gluconate complex in sucrose. In this study, we compared the cellular iron uptake profiles of the brand (Ferrlecit®) and generic sodium ferric gluconate (SFG) products. We used a colorimetric assay to examine the amount of iron uptake by three human macrophage cell lines. This is the first published study to provide a parallel evaluation of the cellular uptake of a brand and a generic IV iron drug in a mononuclear phagocyte system. The results showed no difference in iron uptake across all cell lines, tested doses, and time points. The matching iron uptake profiles of Ferrlecit® and its generic product support the FDA's present position detailed in the draft guidance on development of SFG complex products that bioequivalence can be based on qualitative (Q1) and quantitative (Q2) formulation sameness, similar physiochemical characterization, and pharmacokinetic bioequivalence studies.

Anemia in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients; Iron Repletion, Current and Future Therapies

Iron deficiency, both functional and absolute, is common in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), especially those requiring dialysis. Guidelines advocate treatment of iron-deficiency anemia in patients with CKD and those on peritoneal dialysis (PD). Oral iron is often insufficient and slow to improve hemoglobin concentrations because of high hepcidin levels causing impaired absorption and mobilization, while intravenous (IV) supplementation replenishes and maintains iron stores more effectively and is now standard practice (Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes [KDIGO] 2012 guidelines). However, there still remain concerns about the effects of labile iron and possible increased risk of infections for this group of patients.To date, the majority of published studies have focused on hemodialysis (HD) patients; very limited data are available regarding patients on PD. This review summarizes the rationale for iron therapy, methods of treatment, potential adverse effects, and long-term concerns in PD patients. In addition we highlight some interesting potential future therapies under study.

Intravenous iron and erythropoiesis-stimulating agents in haemodialysis: A systematic review and meta-analysis

AIM

Higher dosages of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) have been associated with adverse effects. Intravenous iron is used to optimize ESA response and reduces ESA doses in haemodialysis patients; this meta-analysis evaluates the magnitude of this effect.

METHODS

A literature search was performed using MEDLINE, Embase and the Cochrane Collaboration Central Register of Clinical Trials from inception until December 2014, to identify randomized controlled trials of intravenous iron and ESA, in patients undergoing haemodialysis for end-stage kidney disease. Dosing of IV iron in concordance with the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes guidelines was considered optimal iron therapy.

RESULTS

Of the 28 randomized controlled trials identified, seven met the criteria for inclusion in the meta-analysis. Results of random-effects meta-analysis show a statistically significant weighted mean (95% CI) difference of -1733 [-3073, -392] units/week in ESA dose for optimal iron versus suboptimal iron. The weighted average change in ESA dose was a reduction of 23% (range -7% to -55%) attributable to appropriate dosing of intravenous iron. A comparison of intravenous iron versus oral iron/no iron (five trials) showed a greater reduction in ESA dose, although this did not reach statistical significance (weighted mean difference, 95% CI: -2,433 [-5183, 318] units/week). The weighted average change in ESA dose across the five trials was a reduction of 31% (range -8% to -55%).

CONCLUSION

Significant reductions in ESA dosing may be achieved with optimal intravenous iron usage in the haemodialysis population, and suboptimal iron use may require higher ESA dosing to manage anaemia.

Intravenous iron therapy in patients with chronic kidney disease: recent evidence and future directions

Current recommendations for the use of intravenous iron therapy in the management of anaemia in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are based on limited clinical evidence. Since the publication of the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) Clinical Practice Guideline for Anaemia in Chronic Kidney Disease in 2012, a number of randomized clinical trials [notably, the Ferinject Assessment in Patients with Iron Deficiency Anaemia (FIND-CKD) and Randomized Trial to Evaluate IV and Oral Iron in Chronic Kidney Disease (REVOKE) trials] and observational studies have been completed, and a further large clinical trial—Proactive IV Iron Therapy in Dialysis Patients (PIVOTAL)—is currently underway. In this article, the implications of the findings from these recent studies are discussed and the critical evidence gaps that remain to be addressed are highlighted.

Practical considerations for iron therapy in the management of anaemia in patients with chronic kidney disease

Clinical practice guidelines provide both local and global recommendations for the use of iron therapy in the management of anaemia in patients with chronic kidney disease. However, physicians must interpret and adapt these guidelines to meet the specific needs of their individual patients. The recommendations must also be considered in the context of findings from more recently published clinical trials and observational studies.

Chronic Kidney Disease

The definition and classification of chronic kidney disease (CKD) have evolved over time, but current international guidelines define this condition as decreased kidney function shown by glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of less than 60 mL/min per 1·73 m², or markers of kidney damage, or both, of at least 3 months duration, regardless of the underlying cause. Diabetes and hypertension are the main causes of CKD in all high-income and middle-income countries, and also in many low-income countries. Incidence, prevalence, and progression of CKD also vary within countries by ethnicity and social determinants of health, possibly through epigenetic influence. Many people are asymptomatic or have non-specific symptoms such as lethargy, itch, or loss of appetite. Diagnosis is commonly made after chance findings from screening tests (urinary dipstick or blood tests), or when symptoms become severe. The best available indicator of overall kidney function is GFR, which is measured either via exogenous markers (eg, DTPA, iohexol), or estimated using equations. Presence of proteinuria is associated with increased risk of progression of CKD and death. Kidney biopsy samples can show definitive evidence of CKD, through common changes such as glomerular sclerosis, tubular atrophy, and interstitial fibrosis. Complications include anaemia due to reduced production of erythropoietin by the kidney; reduced red blood cell survival and iron deficiency; and mineral bone disease caused by disturbed vitamin D, calcium, and phosphate metabolism. People with CKD are five to ten times more likely to die prematurely than they are to progress to end stage kidney disease. This increased risk of death rises exponentially as kidney function worsens and is largely attributable to death from cardiovascular disease, although cancer incidence and mortality are also increased. Health-related quality of life is substantially lower for people with CKD than for the general population, and falls as GFR declines. Interventions targeting specific symptoms, or aimed at supporting educational or lifestyle considerations, make a positive difference to people living with CKD. Inequity in access to services for this disease disproportionally affects disadvantaged populations, and health service provision to incentivise early intervention over provision of care only for advanced CKD is still evolving in many countries.

Targets for adapting intravenous iron dose in hemodialysis: a proof of concept study

BACKGROUND

Intravenous iron is widely used to control anemia in dialysis patients and limits costs related to erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESA). Current guidelines do not clearly set upper limits for serum ferritin (SF) and transferrin saturation (TSAT). International surveys such as the Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study (DOPPS) showed that this lack of upper limits potentially led nephrologists to prescribe iron infusions even for patients with a high SF. Recent publications have suggested a risk of short- and long-term adverse effects related to iron overload. We conducted a proof of concept study to assess the impact of reducing intravenous iron administration.

METHODS

In a prospective 8-month study conducted in a hospital dialysis unit, we assessed the impact of a strategy designed to reduce iron infusions. Instead of the usual strategy targeting 30-50% TSAT irrespective of SF, intravenous iron was administered if and only if TSAT was below 20% and SF below 200 μg/L. Routine practices for ESA remained unchanged: hemoglobin target 10-12 g/dL; ESA delivered monthly and dose corrected by 25% as necessary; ESA discontinued temporarily if hemoglobin >13 g/dL; methoxy polyethylene glycol-epoetin beta generally used. Tests were ordered monthly to monitor hemoglobin. Intravenous iron was administered weekly and ESA monthly. Baseline and 6-month TSAT, SF and hemoglobin levels were compared.

RESULTS

Six-month data were available for 45 patients (31 M/14 F; 67.6 ± 14.0 y; 53.9 ± 85.7 months on dialysis). Patients experienced the following comorbidities: ischemic heart disease (n = 29, 44%), diabetes mellitus (n = 14; 31%), malignant disease (n = 11; 24%), transplantation (n = 11; 24%) and severe heart failure (n = 6; 13%). The mean weekly dose of iron declined from 77.8 ± 87.6 to 24.4 ± 52.9 mg per patient (p = 0.0003). SF decreased from 947.7 ± 1056.4 to 570.7 ± 424.4 μg/L (p = 0.0001), and TSAT from 41.5 ± 22.4 to 32.6 ± 13.7% (p = 0.01). Hemoglobin levels remained stable (11.13 ± 1.05 vs. 11.00 ± 1.16 g/dL, p = 0.54) as did ESA dose (126.4 ± 91.9 vs. 108.2 ± 112.7 μg/28 days, p = 0.07).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study suggests that a regular hemoglobin level can be maintained using regular ESA doses combined with intravenous iron doses adapted to TSAT and SF thresholds lower than those used in routine practice. This strategy reduces the risk of iron overload.

A Review of Ferric Pyrophosphate Citrate (Triferic) Use in Hemodialysis Patients

PURPOSE

The objective of this short review is to evaluate the efficacy of ferric pyrophosphate citrate and to determine its place in therapy based on the current published literature.

METHODS

A literature search was conducted and pared down to yield 4 placebo controlled Phase II and III clinically relevant trials.

FINDINGS

Ferric pyrophosphate citrate is a new intradialytic iron supplementation product that has been found to reduce the dose of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents and intravenous iron supplementation and to increase serum ferritin concentrations.

IMPLICATIONS

This agent may be administered to patients with stage 5 chronic kidney disease receiving hemodialysis as a new iron supplementation option to maintain hemoglobin, transferrin saturation, and ferritin concentrations.

Iron deficiency intravenous substitution in a Swiss academic primary care division: analysis of practices

Background

Iron deficiency is a common problem in primary care and is usually treated with oral iron substitution. With the recent simplification of intravenous (IV) iron administration (ferric carboxymaltose) and its approval in many countries for iron deficiency, physicians may be inclined to overutilize it as a first-line substitution.

Objective

The aim of this study was to evaluate iron deficiency management and substitution practices in an academic primary care division 5 years after ferric carboxymaltose was approved for treatment of iron deficiency in Switzerland.

Methods

All patients treated for iron deficiency during March and April 2012 at the Geneva University Division of Primary Care were identified. Their medical files were analyzed for information, including initial ferritin value, reasons for the investigation of iron levels, suspected etiology, type of treatment initiated, and clinical and biological follow-up. Findings were assessed using an algorithm for iron deficiency management based on a literature review.

Results

Out of 1,671 patients, 93 were treated for iron deficiency. Median patients’ age was 40 years and 92.5% (n=86) were female. The average ferritin value was 17.2 μg/L (standard deviation 13.3 μg/L). The reasons for the investigation of iron levels were documented in 82% and the suspected etiology for iron deficiency was reported in 67%. Seventy percent of the patients received oral treatment, 14% IV treatment, and 16% both. The reasons for IV treatment as first- and second-line treatment were reported in 57% and 95%, respectively. Clinical and biological follow-up was planned in less than two-thirds of the cases.

Conclusion

There was no clear overutilization of IV iron substitution. However, several steps of the iron deficiency management were not optimally documented, suggesting shortcuts in clinical reasoning.

Oral or intravenous iron for anemia correction in chronic kidney disease?

Iron deficiency in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) can be corrected by the oral or intravenous route. The natural intestinal barrier against iron overload is circumvented by intravenous iron. The balance between benefit and risk of high iron doses remains unclear. In a randomized controlled trial in CKD patients, Agarwal et al. find similar effects of oral and intravenous iron on hemoglobin levels and kidney function decline but more serious cardiovascular events and infections with intravenous iron.

Iron Therapy Challenges for the Treatment of Nondialysis CKD Patients

The clinical consequences of untreated, severe anemia in patients with nondialysis CKD can be significant, but disparities exist in the anemia treatment guidelines and position papers issued from working groups and associations across the world. These differ in hemoglobin target and iron levels and their emphasis on various iron markers and other clinical outcomes. Not surprisingly, disparities are observed in anemia treatment strategies among patients with nondialysis CKD across different areas of the world. Over the past decade, the prescription and dosage of both iron therapies and erythropoiesis-stimulating agents have shifted, with notable regional differences observed. Moreover, there is ongoing debate regarding oral versus intravenous administration of iron. Compared with oral iron therapy, which often leads to gastrointestinal adverse events, low patient adherence, and low efficacy, intravenous iron administration has been associated with potential serious adverse events, such as anaphylaxis. New iron-based compounds and drugs currently under development are reviewed to describe their potential benefits in the treatment of anemia in patients with CKD. New oral compounds, including iron-based phosphate binders, heme iron polypeptide, and liposomal iron, show different rates of absorption with possibly different efficacy and improved tolerability. These new potential therapies offer health care providers additional anemia treatment options for their patients with CKD; however, the management of anemia in the CKD population continues to present challenges that require prospective studies to identify the optimal iron therapy for patients.

ESA Hyporesponsiveness Is Associated with Adverse Events in Maintenance Hemodialysis (MHD) Patients, But Not with Iron Storage

Objective

It has been reported that hyporesponsiveness to erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA) is associated with adverse events in patients on maintenance hemodialysis (MHD). However, it has not been determined whether higher iron storage is associated with an improved response, including better survival, to ESA.

Design and Method

We measured serum ferritin, hemoglobin (Hb), and transferrin saturation (TSAT) levels every three months for two years in 1,095 MHD patients. The weekly dose of ESA to Hb ratio was also calculated as an index of ESA responsiveness (ERI).

Results

A significant correlation (p<0.001, R = 0.89) between ferritin and Hb was only observed in the patients with ferritin levels <50 ng/mL. High-dose (≥50 mg/week) intravenous iron administration, female sex, low serum albumin, and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blocker use were significant predictors of a high ERI value (>280); however, serum ferritin and TSAT levels did not predict a higher ERI. In the time-dependent Cox hazard model, the risk for a composite event in the patients with a high ERI (≥280) and a high ferritin level (≥100 ng/mL) was significantly greater (hazard ratio [HR], 2.09, P = 0.033) than that for patients with a high ERI and a low ferritin (<100 ng/mL) level.

Conclusion

Hb was dependent upon ferritin levels in patients with ferritin levels <50 ng/mL but not in patients with ferritin levels ≥50 ng/mL. Patients with hyporesponsiveness to ESA had a greater risk of composite events, but ERI was unrelated to iron storage.