Safety of iron sucrose in hemodialysis patients intolerant to other parenteral iron products.

OBJECTIVE

This report summarizes the data gathered in four prospective studies of intravenous iron sucrose therapy administered to iron-deficient hemodialysis patients with a history of intolerance to other parenteral iron preparations.

METHODS

A total of 130 iron dextran- and/or sodium ferric gluconate-sensitive patients received intravenous iron sucrose therapy to correct iron deficiency, and/or maintain body iron stores. A history of intolerance to iron dextran alone was reported in 109 patients, to ferric sodium gluconate alone in 6 patients, and to both iron dextran and ferric sodium gluconate in 15 patients. Therapy with iron sucrose consisted of 100- or 200-mg doses administered undiluted intravenously over 2-5 min, or diluted in normal saline and infused over 15-30 min. Test doses of iron sucrose were not administered. The median cumulative dose was 1,000 mg, with a range of 100-5,000 mg.

RESULTS

There were no serious adverse events related to iron sucrose therapy in the 130 patients intolerant to other iron preparations. There were 14 nonserious drug-related adverse events in 8 patients attributed to iron sucrose, none of which resulted in discontinuation of therapy. These events were classified as either of severe (diarrhea), moderate (hypotension, nausea, vomiting), or mild severity (constipation, dry mouth, skin irritation).

CONCLUSIONS

Iron sucrose therapy is safe and well tolerated in hemodialysis patients intolerant to iron dextran and/or sodium ferric gluconate.