A RANDOMIZED TRIAL OF 3 IRON DEXTRAN INFUSION METHODS FOR ANEMIA IN EPO-TREATED DIALYSIS PATIENTS

Forty-three hemodialysis patients receiving recombinant erythropoietin (rHuEPO, epoietin alpha) were randomized to receive intravenous iron dextran as a total-dose infusion, 500-mg infusion to total dose, or 10 0-mg bolus to total dose, in each case during the dialysis procedure, The dose of iron dextran was calculated from the patient's existing he moglobin to achieve a desired hemoglobin, Patients were eligible to re ceive intravenous iron dextran if they had a serum ferritin of less th an or equal to 100 ng/mL or a serum ferritin of 100 to 200 ng/mL, alon g with a transferrin saturation of less than or equal to 19%. Patients were excluded if they had prior therapy with iron dextran, aluminum i ntoxication, or transfusion during the study. The time to the maximum hemoglobin, acute adverse reactions, and delayed adverse reactions wer e analyzed statistically, and no differences were seen in any of the t hree groups, Total dose intravenous iron dextran infusion is safe, con venient, less expensive, and as efficacious as divided-dose infusions. (C) 1998 by the National Kidney Foundation, Inc.