Loading...
Treatment with iron by mouth is effective for most patients with iron deficiency, but occasionally intravenous (IV) iron is required for those who are refractory or intolerant to oral iron. However, severe and sometimes fatal anaphylactic reactions have been reported after administration of IV iron.
To determine which iron preparations are least likely to provoke anaphylaxis, FDA researchers performed a retrospective study of Medicare patients treated with IV iron from 2003 through 2013. During this period, 247,500 people received iron dextran and 440,683 were treated with non-dextran preparations. Anaphylactic reactions occurred in 274 with the first exposure to IV iron and in 170 during a subsequent dose. The investigators observed the fol…