SAFETY AND EFFICACY OF INTRAVENOUS ADMINISTRATION OF IRON PREPARATIONS

Iron deficiency is the main cause of anemia worldwide. Iron supplementation leads to a rise of transferrin saturation and ferritin concentration, resulting in an increased hemoglobin level and decrease of anemia symptoms. Oral iron administration is a treatment of choice in iron deficiency anemia. In patients with impaired iron absorption from the gastrointestinal tract, as well as in large deficits, or poor tolerance of oral formulations, it becomes necessary to apply iron intravenously. In this paper we present, on the basis of current publications, the characteristics of intravenous iron preparations nowadays available on the market, in various clinical situations, with particular focus on their benefits and risk related to the administration of high single iron doses.