Iron supplementation in heart failure
In patients with heart failure and iron deficiency (ID), oral iron supplementation is ineffective due to very poor absorption. Therefore, intravenous iron supplementation is the only therapeutic approach which has been proven to be safe and effective in patients with heart failure and ID confirmed by blood tests. The majority of evidence is related to the intravenous iron preparation ferric carboxymaltose.
The dose of intravenous ferric carboxymaltose administered to a patient is calculated based on body weight and haemoglobin level, and varies between 500 and 2000 mg. If the total calculated dose of iron required exceeds 1000 mg, its administration is split into two sessions separated by 4-6 weeks. Ferric carboxymaltose is administered as 15-minute intravenous infusion of iron dissolved in 100 mL of saline. This therapy can be safely delivered both in hospital and ambulatory settings.
Intravenous iron supplementation in patients with heart failure and ID has been proven to reduce the symptoms of heart failure, improve quality of life, increase exercise capacity and skeletal muscle strength as well as reduce the risk of recurrent hospitalisations.
The effect of intravenous iron supplementation on iron status should be checked by a blood test approximately 3 months after the last administered dose. After a patient has received the full dose, periodic screening for ID should be performed according to the Doctor’s recommendation.
Also known as:
• Ferric carboxymaltose
(Ferinject®)