A 1 g dose of intravenous iron is sufficient to treat iron deficiency anaemia

One hundred and ninety-four patient episodes were audited for response to a standardised 1 g intravenous iron infusion for medical outpatients with iron deficiency anaemia. Patients received either ferric carboxymaltose or iron polymaltose. At 5-7 weeks after infusion, mean increase in Hb was 26.7 g/L and ferritin was 161 mcg/L, and only one patient had Hb <100 g/L. This reassures that 1 g dose of intravenous iron is sufficient for most patients, with benefits for treatment costs and patient convenience.