Pharmacological studies on an iron-poly-(sorbitol-gluconic acid) complex for parenteral treatment of iron deficiency anaemia

Intravenous injection of the iron-poly(sorbitol-gluconic acid) complex (IPSG) to cats anaesthetized with sodium pentobarbitone caused a transient decrease in mean arterial blood pressure and a temporary increase in central venous pressure, heart rate and femoral blood flow at large doses (cumulative doses up to 744 mg/kg). Tachyphylaxis developed upon repeated administration. A temporary reduction in the magnitude of the blood pressure responses to noradrenaline and isoprenaline was obtained after large doses of IPSG. The blood pressure effects of acetylcholine, histamine and bilateral carotid occlusion were not affected. No definite effects were seen on the electrocardiograms. The transient cardiovascular effects were interpreted as being due to the presence of small amounts of ferrous iron in the preparation. IPSG did not significantly affect blood coagulation or platelet aggregation as judged from results of in vitro and in vivo experiments. Immunogenicity studies in rabbits and antibody analyses of sera from patients treated with IPSG failed to demonstrate any effect of IPSG on the immune system.