• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.197-206
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• 2009

Purpose : Limited information is available on experiences of intravenous iron treatment in children. In this study, iron sucrose was administered intravenously to determine its effect, the factors predicting outcome, and safety in children on chronic dialysis. Methods : Twenty-one children whose serum ferritin levels were less than 100 ng/mL or transferrin saturations (TSAT) were less than 20% were enrolled. In 12 children on peritoneal dialysis (PD), the drug was infused intravenously as 200 mg/$m^2$ ($\leq$200 mg) at week 0, 2, 4, and 6. In 9 children on hemodialysis (HD), it was given intravenously as 8 weekly doses of 3 mg/kg ($\leq$100 mg) through week 0-7. Results : After treatment, serum ferritin levels increased significantly in both groups, and TSAT rose significantly in PD group. However, hemoglobin level did not rise significantly in both groups. Children with baseline hemoglobin less than 10 g/dL or baseline TSAT less than 20% showed significantly higher rise of hemoglobin after intravenous iron treatment. To the contrary, those with higher baseline hemoglobin and TSAT levels displayed higher rise in serum ferritin after the treatment. Although no serious adverse event occurred, TSAT levels exceeding 50% were noted in 6 patients in PD group. Conclusion : This suggests that 3 mg/kg/week of intravenous iron sucrose can be used safely in children on chronic HD, but 200 mg/$m^2$ every other week may incur excessive TSAT level in some patients on chronic PD.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.262-266
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• 2008

Purpose: Many patients suffer with anemia after gastrectomy. Iron deficiency due to a decreased oral intake and malabsoption is the most common cause of anemia in gastrectomized patients. This study evaluated the efficacy of administering intravenous iron sucrose for treating patients with anemia. Materials and Methods: From May 2007 to October 2007 at Yonsei University Severance Hospital, we reviewed 47 outpatients whose hemoglobin levels were below 11 g/dl after gastrectomy. Iron sucrose was used for iron supplementation. To determine the difference between before and after the treatment (at 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, 3 months and 6 months after treatment), we prospectively examined such anemia parameters as the hemoglobin level (Hgb), the hematocrit (Hct), serum iron, TIBC, ferritin and transferin. Results: Out of the 47 patients, only 36 completed their treatment. Eleven were male and 25 were female. The Hgb levels, which indicate anemia, were elevated 0.6, 0.8, 1.3, 2.1 and 2.2 g/dl after 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, 3 months and 6 months after administration, respectively (P<0.001). The changes from 1 week to 3 months were statistically significant, but those from 3 to 6 months were not. The Hgb levels of 26 patients, which accounted for 72% of all the patients, elevated up to 12 g/dl or more. No side effects or complications were found, but there was one case of temporary nausea. Conclusion: Anemia after gastrectomy is safely treated in a relatively short time with administering iron sucrose. The patients' Hgb levels are expected to increase in a week and keep increasing up to 3 months.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.35-39
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• 2008

Purpose: This study was aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of of intravenous iron sucrose ($Venoferrum^{(R)}$) for treating the perioperative anemic gastrectomy patients. Materials and Methods: From September 2006 to February 2007 at Seoul National University Hospital, the gastrectomy patients who displayed perioperative anemia (7.0 g/dl $\leq$ hemoglobin levels (Hb) < 11.0 g/dl) and who were admitted or visited the outpatient clinic of the Department of surgery, were divided into two groups. The preoperative (${\leq}\;2{\sim}3$ weeks before gastrectomy) or postoperative ($\geq$ 1 month after gastrectomy) patients without evidence of acute bleeding were included into Group 1. The immediate postoperative (< 1 month after gastrectomy) patients with stable vital signs were included into Group 2. The age, gender, diagnosis, Hb, hematocrit (Hct), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), serum ferritin (SF), total iron binding capacity (TIBC), serum iron and reticulocyte counts (RC) were evaluated before and after intravenous iron sucrose administration. The adverse effects of drugs were investigated. Results: The number of patients of group 1 and group 2 was 79 and 46, respectively. In group 1, there was a statistically significant difference in the Hb, Hct, MCV, SF, RC and TIBC with each mean change of 1.3 g/dl, 4.1%, 3.1ft, 195 ng/ml, 0.2% and -86.4 ug/dl, respectively. In group 2, there was a statistically significant difference in the Hb, Hct, MCV, SF and RC with each mean change of 1.8 g/dl, 6.1%, 3.4fl, 260 ng/ml and 0.3%, respectively. Two patients (1.6%) suffered local thrombophlebitis as an adverse effect. Conclusion: Intravenous iron sucrose for the perioperative anemia of gastrectomy patients was efficacious in the short period without significant adverse effects.