Initial effectiveness and safety data on intravenous ferric derisomaltose for iron deficiency anaemia management in paediatric gastroenterology patients: a multicentre retrospective cohort study

Objective Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) is common in paediatric gastroenterology with intravenous iron increasingly utilised. While adult data are published for ferric derisomaltose (FDI), no paediatric data exist. Our aim was to assess the effectiveness and safety profile of FDI in paediatric gastroenterology. Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting Two UK referral centres (Edinburgh and Sheffield). Patients All paediatric gastroenterology patients who received FDI from June 2020 to June 2023. Main outcome measures Haematological and biochemical parameters were collected before and at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after treatment, when available, together with the need for repeated FDI infusions and FDI adverse events. Results Sixty-five patients were identified (54% male; median age 12.8 years, IQR 9.6–15.2), receiving 78 FDI infusions. After a single infusion, 38/59 (64%) patients (effectiveness analysis) completely corrected their anaemia and 6/59 (10%) improved from moderate-severe to mild anaemia. Median haemoglobin increased from 92 (IQR 85–108) to 126 (IQR 115–132) g/L at 1 month (p<0.001) and peaked at 12 months (134 g/L, IQR 125–142; p<0.001) post infusion. A second infusion was performed in 12/59 (20%) patients with 9/12 correcting their anaemia. No significant biochemical alterations, including hypophosphataemia, were detected. Overall, 4/65 (6%) patients (safety analysis) experienced adverse events, with three discontinuing FDI infusion. Conclusions Our real-world data reveal FDI is rapidly and persistently effective in correcting IDA in paediatric gastroenterology. No significant biochemical alterations or new safety signals were identified.