[Oral and i.v. iron therapy in haemodialysis patients (author's transl)]

Low serum iron level with a transferrin saturation below 16% is a crucial aetiologic factor of anaemia in haemodialysed patients. Current therapy usually is a correct dialytic and dietetic treatment and i.v. iron supply. Two groups of haemodialysis patients with low serum iron but a normal transferrin saturation, have been studied by comparing the efficacy of the i.v. and the oral iron supply. The serum iron of the two groups changed from low to normal level with highly significant difference. Haemoglobin and haematocrit did not change because of the normal transferrin saturation before the treatment. In conclusion, in uraemic patients treated by chronic dialysis, the oral and the i.v. iron therapy probably give the same result.