Efficacy for Anemia and Changes in Serum Ferritin Levels by Long-Term Oral Iron Administration in Hemodialysis Patients.

Oral iron preparations are useful for the treatment of anemia in hemodialysis patients; however, long-term changes in the iron dynamics and effects of anemia are unknown. Serum ferritin levels and erythropoietin-stimulating agent (ESA)/hemoglobin (Hb) ratios were investigated for 750 days in the following four groups: patients treated with sodium ferrous citrate (SF) (de novo 50 mg/day and 150 mg/day switched from 50 mg/day) and patients treated with 1500 mg/day of ferric citrate (FC) (de novo and switched from 50 mg/day of SF). Compared with the other groups, serum ferritin levels increased less apparently with de novo 50 mg/day SF. ESA/Hb ratios did not change in groups switched from 50 mg/day SF. Conversely, in groups with de novo iron, ESA/Hb ratios decreased and ultimately reached the same levels in all groups. Although more iron results in higher serum ferritin levels, 50 mg/day SF has an equivalent effect for anemia treatment.