A protocol for administering intravenous iron dextran in peritoneal dialysis patients

Intravenous (i.v.) iron has been underutilized in the peritoneal dialysis (PD) population due to poor peripheral access and logistical barriers. In PD patients who are intolerant or nonadherent to oral iron, a convenient method of i.v. iron administration is total dose infusion (TDI). This method of administration involves administering the total therapeutic dose of i.v. iron over one to two administrations. This article will review the literature on the use of parenteral iron in PD patients, and will outline West Coast Dialysis Center's successful protocol for TDI of iron dextran in its PD population.