Creative iron management--a practical guide

The use of intravenous (IV) iron is now part of the every day management of anaemia in people with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). The increase in the number of referrals to renal services since the introduction of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) reporting in 2006 in England means that people with CKD are being identified earlier and consequently, complications such as anaemia are being highlighted sooner. The prevalence of anaemia of CKD has been estimated in a population study of stage 3-5 CKD as 4.5% (John et al. 2004). People with stage 3 CKD and diabetes have a 22% incidence of anaemia that is much greater than the incidence of 7.9% in those without diabetes (El Achkar et al. 2005). The increase in numbers requiring anaemia management is having an impact on resources and service provision, in particular the treatment of iron deficiency with IV iron. A need to be creative and investigate alternative ways of using resources and providing services in different settings was identified by the multiprofessional members of the Anaemia Nurse Specialist Association (ANSA) and the CKD forum (a project group of the British Renal Society). The outcome has been the production of a practical guide for healthcare professionals to assist with the development of IV iron services in a nonacute hospital setting. The guide was launched at the annual ANSA conference (April 2009) and British Renal Society conference (June 2009).