Risk of bacterial infection in patients under intravenous iron therapy: dose versus length of treatment

Artif Organs. 2001 Nov;25(11):866-9. doi: 10.1046/j.1525-1594.2001.06894.x.

Abstract

Some studies have suggested that intravenous iron therapy may be associated with an increased risk of infection. We analyzed the incidence of bacterial infection in 111 hemodialysis patients. Group 1 (n = 39, transferrin saturation <20%) received 10 doses of 100 mg of intravenous iron saccharate, 3 doses per week (28 treatment days); Group 2 (n = 13, transferrin saturation <20%) received 20 doses, 3 doses per week (70 treatment days); and Group 3 (n = 59, transferrin saturation 20-50%) received 10 doses, 1 dose per week (70 treatment days). The follow-up was 150 days for all groups, and all infectious episodes were recorded. Pulmonary infection was the most frequent event observed in all of the groups. In an incidence-density analysis, Group 2, which received a total of 20 doses, presented a significantly higher incidence of infection than Group 3, which received only 10 doses over the same period (0.13 versus 0.06 infections per patient per month, p = 0.04). No difference was observed between Groups 1 and 2 suggesting that the risk of infection during iron therapy is dose dependent rather than time length dependent.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Bacterial Infections / etiology*
  • Female
  • Ferric Compounds / administration & dosage*
  • Ferric Oxide, Saccharated
  • Glucaric Acid
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Renal Dialysis*
  • Sucrose / administration & dosage*

Substances

  • Ferric Compounds
  • Sucrose
  • Ferric Oxide, Saccharated
  • Glucaric Acid