Comparison of adverse-event profiles of intravenous low-molecular-weight iron dextran and iron sucrose in peritoneal dialysis patients.

Background: Both erythropoiesis-stimulating agents and iron treatments are underutilized in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. Studies to evaluate safety profiles of various intravenous iron preparations are limited in PD patients compared to hemodialysis. No study in the literature compared safety of low-molecular-weight iron dextran (LMW-ID) with that of iron sucrose in PD patients. We aimed to compare adverse-effect profiles of LMW-ID and iron sucrose with varying dosing schedules in PD patients with a hope to foster use of parenteral iron solutions in PD patients.
Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patient charts and included patients who were administered iron sucrose or LMW-ID parenterally. Sociodemographic characteristics, clinical features, and pertinent laboratory data were collected. Adverse events which were deemed to be related to infusion of parenteral iron were recorded. We double-checked both physician records and nursing documents for observed adverse events.
Results: A total of 167 chronic PD patients were included in the study, and 92 patients were administered LMW-ID, whereas 75 patients were administered iron sucrose. Only one adverse event occurred in a patient who was administered 500 mg iron sucrose in a single infusion.
Conclusions: This study showed the comparable safety of LMW-ID in varying doses over that of iron sucrose in PD patients.