[Iron therapy: is it different with peritoneal dialysis compared to haemodialysis?]

This paper reviews literature data on iron replacement (loading) for peritoneal dialysis patients. The 3 main sources of clinical guidelines (American NKF-K/DOQI, European EBPG and French AFSSAPS) agree about the definition of iron deficience, but are not similar about the haemoglobin/hematocrit targets for EPO treatment, and for the route of iron administration (oral versus intravenous). Iron requirements are less in PD HD patients. That could be explained by several factors: less blood losses, preservation of a residual renal function, better digestive iron absorption due to a greater hepcidin excretion. Intravenous route for iron sucrose is more efficient than oral route. Taking into account the iron requirements for PD patients, monthly 200 mg iron sucrose infusions over 5 mn seem to be safe and sufficient for most patients.