Abstract
Ferric carboxymaltose (Ferinject®, Injectafer®) is an important intravenous iron preparation option for the treatment of iron deficiency. A single high dose [up to 750 mg (USA) or 1000 mg (EU) of iron] can be administered intravenously in a short time frame (15 min). Thus, fewer doses of ferric carboxymaltose may be needed to replenish iron stores relative to some other intravenous iron preparations. Ferric carboxymaltose improved self-reported patient global assessment, New York Heart Association functional class and exercise capacity in patients with chronic heart failure and iron deficiency in the FAIR-HF and CONFIRM-HF trials. In other trials, ferric carboxymaltose replenished iron stores and corrected anaemia in various populations with iron-deficiency anaemia, including patients with chronic kidney disease, inflammatory bowel disease or heavy uterine bleeding, postpartum iron-deficiency anaemia and perioperative anaemia. Intravenous ferric carboxymaltose was generally well tolerated, with a very low risk of hypersensitivity reactions. In general, it was better tolerated than oral ferrous sulfate, mainly reflecting a lower incidence of gastrointestinal adverse effects. The higher acquisition cost of ferric carboxymaltose was offset by lower costs for other items, with the potential for cost savings.
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Acknowledgments
The manuscript was reviewed by: E. Bisbe, Department of Anaesthesia, Hospital Mar-Esperança, IMIM Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain; B. Bokemeyer, Gastroenterology Practice, Minden, Germany.
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This article was adapted from Drugs 2015;75(1):101–27 [10] by a salaried employee of Adis/Springer and was not supported by any external funding. During the peer review process, the manufacturer of the agent under review was offered an opportunity to comment on the article. Changes resulting from comments received were made by the authors on the basis of scientific merit.
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Keating, G.M. Ferric carboxymaltose: a guide to its use in iron deficiency. Drugs Ther Perspect 31, 143–149 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40267-015-0203-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40267-015-0203-3