ABSTRACT
Anemia in hemodialysis patients is a complex syndrome and many factors other than absolute or relative erythropoietin [EPO] deficiency may contribute to it. The most important factor is the presence of iron depletion. The impetus of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of iron saccharate complex [ISC] and sodium ferric gluconate complex [SFGC] as relatively new parenteral iron preparations in treating anemia in hemodialysis patients. Forty-eight adult anemic patients of both genders [33 males and 15 females] who had an adequate level of both hemodialysis and nutrition status and received neither EPO nor parenteral iron therapy during the preceding 6 months were randomized into two groups. The first group, comprised 22 patients who were treated with parenteral ISC, 100 mg twice weekly for two months and once weekly thereafter. The second group included 26 patients who received SFGC, 62.5 mg twice weekly for two months and once weekly thereafter. The patients were followed up for 6 months. Our results showed that iron stores had been adequately repleted by the use of both parenteral iron formulas. Repletion of iron stores was associated with a significant rise of both hemoglobin and hematocrit% in both groups at the end of follow up period in comparison to their initial values at the start of the study [P < 0.001]. Both parenteral iron therapy preparations were tolerated and comparable with no statistical difference between both groups. Parenteral iron saccharate and gluconate are effective and sale treatment of anemia associated with chronic hemodialysis patients provided that they had an adequate level of both dialysis and nutrition