Ferumoxytol as an intravenous iron replacement therapy in hemodialysis patients

Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2009 Feb;4(2):386-93. doi: 10.2215/CJN.02840608. Epub 2009 Jan 28.

Abstract

Background and objectives: Intravenous iron is a key component of anemia management for chronic kidney disease (CKD). Ferumoxytol is a unique intravenous iron product that can be administered as a rapid injection in doses up to 510 mg.

Design, setting, participants, & measurements: This was a randomized, open-label, controlled, multicenter Phase 3 trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of intravenous ferumoxytol compared with oral iron. Anemic patients with CKD stage 5D on hemodialysis and on a stable erythropoiesis-stimulating agent regimen received either two injections of 510 mg of ferumoxytol within 7 d (n = 114) or 200 mg elemental oral iron daily for 21 d (n = 116). The primary efficacy endpoint was the change in hemoglobin from baseline to day 35. Safety was closely monitored.

Results: Ferumoxytol resulted in a mean increase in hemoglobin of 1.02 +/- 1.13 g/dl at day 35 compared with 0.46 +/- 1.06 g/dl with oral iron (P = 0.0002). Twice as many ferumoxytol-treated patients than oral iron-treated patients achieved a > or =1 g/dl hemoglobin increase at day 35 (P = 0.0002). There was a greater mean increase in transferrin saturation (TSAT) with ferumoxytol compared with oral iron at day 35 (P < 0.0001). The larger hemoglobin increase after ferumoxytol compared with oral iron at day 35 persisted after adjustment for baseline hemoglobin, TSAT, and serum ferritin. Overall adverse event rates were comparable between groups.

Conclusions: In patients on hemodialysis, rapid intravenous injection of 510 mg of ferumoxytol led to significantly greater hemoglobin increases compared with oral iron, with comparable tolerability.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00233597.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial, Phase III
  • Comparative Study
  • Multicenter Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Aged
  • Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / blood
  • Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / drug therapy*
  • Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / etiology
  • Chronic Disease
  • Dietary Supplements*
  • Female
  • Ferritins / blood
  • Ferrosoferric Oxide / administration & dosage*
  • Ferrosoferric Oxide / adverse effects
  • Hemoglobins / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Injections, Intravenous
  • Iron / administration & dosage*
  • Iron / adverse effects
  • Kidney Diseases / blood
  • Kidney Diseases / complications
  • Kidney Diseases / therapy*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Renal Dialysis* / adverse effects
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Time Factors
  • Transferrin / metabolism
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Hemoglobins
  • Transferrin
  • Ferritins
  • Iron
  • Ferrosoferric Oxide

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT00233597