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Retrospective Safety Evaluation of a Pharmacist-Assisted Total Dose Iron Sucrose Protocol in Hospital Inpatients With Iron Deficiency Anemia.
J Pharm Pract. 2019 Oct 30;:897190019885239
Authors: Wall G, Sharma V, Taylor MJ, Schneider R, Adams K, Gasperi L, Lukenbill JC
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Intravenous (IV) iron sucrose can be used for iron deficiency anemia (IDA), but little information exists on total dose infusion (TDI) of this drug. At a tertiary hospital, an iron sucrose TDI protocol was implemented with staff pharmacists aiding physicians in appropriate dosing.
OBJECTIVES: We sought to define the safety and efficacy of this protocol in adults ≥18 years old with IDA.
METHODS: We conducted a retrospective chart review of patients who received iron sucrose TDI. Inclusion criteria included patients ≥18 years old who were hospitalized and received iron sucrose in doses ≥300 mg. We reviewed the medical record for adverse reactions to any TDI of iron sucrose as well as pre-TDI and post-TDI hemoglobin (Hgb) levels to assess efficacy.
RESULTS: A total of 238 patients received iron sucrose TDI for IDA during the study period. One hundred ninety-three (81%) patients were female, and the mean age in our cohort was 60.6 years. Mean pre-TDI Hgb was 8.76 g/dL. The mean total dose of iron sucrose in the total cohort was 680 mg (range: 300-2500 mg). Adverse effects attributable to iron sucrose were reported in 15 patients, with nausea being the most common effect (7/238, 2.9%). When matching patients' preadmission and postadmission records, a Hgb increase of 2.1 g/L was found (P < .001). No increase in liver function tests was found in any patient.
CONCLUSIONS: A pharmacist-assisted iron sucrose TDI protocol for patients with IDA successfully increased serum Hgb and was well tolerated. Anaphylaxis was not reported.
PMID: 31665957 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]