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Intravenous Iron and the Risk of Infection in End‐Stage Renal Disease Patients
Author(s) -
Perazella Mark A.,
Brewster Ursula C.,
Perazella Mark A.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
seminars in dialysis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1525-139X
pISSN - 0894-0959
DOI - 10.1111/j.1525-139x.2004.17115.x
Subject(s) - medicine , intravenous iron , hemodialysis , iron deficiency , end stage renal disease , disease , immune system , immunology , innate immune system , intensive care medicine , gastroenterology , anemia
Oral iron is typically insufficient for the iron deficiency of hemodialysis patients. Intravenous (IV) iron is well tolerated by most patients and non‐dextran‐containing iron preparations are associated with few allergic reactions. However, there is the potential for an increased risk of infection with IV iron that appears to increase bacterial growth as well as inhibit the host's innate immune response to bacterial infection. Clinical studies suggest a link between iron therapy and infection. Practicing nephrologists should be aware of this issue, but should not hesitate to use IV iron in iron‐deficient patients while avoiding the development of iron overload and administration of iron to patients who have active infection.