Iron deficiency anemia in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

Abstract

Iron deficiency anemia is the most common form of anemia worldwide, caused by poor iron intake, chronic blood loss, or impaired absorption. Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are increasingly likely to have iron deficiency anemia, with an estimated prevalence of 36%–76%. Detection of iron deficiency is problematic as outward signs and symptoms are not always present. Iron deficiency can have a significant impact on a patient’s quality of life, necessitating prompt management and treatment. Effective treatment includes identifying and treating the underlying cause and initiating iron replacement therapy with either oral or intravenous iron. Numerous formulations for oral iron are available, with ferrous fumarate, sulfate, and gluconate being the most commonly prescribed. Available intravenous formulations include iron dextran, iron sucrose, ferric gluconate, and ferumoxytol. Low-molecular weight iron dextran and iron sucrose have been shown to be safe, efficacious, and effective in a host of gastrointestinal disorders. Ferumoxytol is the newest US Food and Drug Administration-approved intravenous iron therapy, indicated for iron deficiency anemia in adults with chronic kidney disease. Ferumoxytol is also being investigated in Phase 3 studies for the treatment of iron deficiency anemia in patients without chronic kidney disease, including subgroups with IBD. A review of the efficacy and safety of iron replacement in IBD, therapeutic considerations, and recommendations for the practicing gastroenterologist are presented.

Introduction

Iron deficiency anemia is the most common form of anemia worldwide, representing up to 50% of all cases.1 In the United States, approximately 2% of men and 5% of women are believed to be affected.2 Causes of iron deficiency include poor iron intake, chronic blood loss, impaired absorption, or any combination of the three (Table 1).3–5 Blood loss from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is the most common cause in men and postmenopausal women and is a common reason for referral to a gastroenterologist.6

Table 1.

Common causes of iron deficiency anemia3–5

Common causes of iron deficiency anemia
Increased iron loss	GI tract ulcers Inflammatory bowel disease – Ulcerative colitis – Crohn’s disease GI malignancy Gastritis (particularly due to Helicobacter pylori) Colonic or gastric polyps Postoperative patients with significant blood loss Intestinal parasites Angiodysplasia (arteriovenous malformations) Aspirin/nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use Regular blood donors Diverticular bleeding Potassium tablets
Decreased iron absorption (malabsorption)	Upper GI pathology – Celiac disease – Crohn’s disease – Chronic gastritis – Gastric lymphoma Gastrectomy Intestinal bypass Duodenal pathology Achlorhydria Giardiasis Short bowel syndrome Gastrojejunostomy Bacterial overgrowth Helicobacter pylori colonization Drugs that bind iron Drugs that decrease gastric acidity Chronic renal failure
Increased demand for iron	Growing infants and children Adolescence Menstruation Lactation Pregnancy Erythropoietin therapy
Decreased iron intake	Diet (lack of balanced diet, vegetarians, vegans) Low socioeconomic status Alcoholism Elderly

Abbreviation: GI, gastrointestinal.

In a variety of populations with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), the prevalence of iron deficiency anemia ranges from 36%–76%.7 Iron is an essential mineral for the function of all body cells and is absorbed at the apical surface of enterocytes to be transported by ferroportin, the only known iron exporter, across the basolateral surface of the enterocyte into circulation.7 Inflammation from IBD interferes with iron absorption by causing an increase in hepcidin, a peptide hormone synthesized in the liver that inhibits ferroportin activity.8 A deficiency of iron can have a significant impact on a patient’s quality of life,9,10 and is associated with diminished exercise tolerance in patients with chronic heart failure.11 Appropriate diagnosis and treatment of iron deficiency anemia are important for the practicing gastroenterologist to improve or maintain the quality of life of patients.4 The purpose of this review is to increase awareness of iron deficiency anemia as a complex condition that requires specific diagnostic and therapeutic approaches and to review the diagnosis and management of iron deficiency anemia in patients with IBD.

Diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia

Iron deficiency anemia may present with symptoms of fatigue and pallor, although these clinical findings are insufficient to establish a diagnosis.12 Rockey and Cello,13 investigating 100 sequential patients with iron deficiency anemia, noted that 62 patients had at least one GI tract lesion with the potential for blood loss. Triester et al,14 utilizing capsule endoscopy, found a 63% yield in obscure GI bleeding while investigating iron deficient patients who had negative esophagogastroduodenos-copies and colonoscopies. The predominant findings were angiodysplasia and Crohn’s disease. Since a large proportion of adult men and postmenopausal women presenting with iron deficiency are not found to have a source of bleeding, malabsorption of iron should be considered as a possible cause in addition to frequent blood donation (Table 1).3–5

Considering the decreased likelihood of outward signs and symptoms, greater vigilance on the part of clinicians is warranted. Diagnostic laboratory tests include a complete blood count and serum iron indices (Table 2).12,15,16 The World Health Organization defines anemia as a hemoglobin level <13 g/dL in men and <12 g/dL in nonpregnant women.17 However, serum iron values alone are not helpful to diagnose iron deficiency, as iron levels are known to vary with the time of day,18 as well as due to systemic causes.3 Low serum ferritin, low transferrin saturation, low serum iron, and increased iron-binding capacity indicate a state of iron deficiency.12 In the absence of inflammation, serum ferritin is the most powerful test for iron deficiency, with values of <12–15 μg/L considered to be diagnostic.19,20 Serum ferritin can be artificially elevated in any chronic inflammatory process, including IBD, infections, malignancies, liver disease, or chronic renal failure.19,21 Higher levels of serum ferritin do not exclude the possibility of iron deficiency, and a serum ferritin level of ≤100 μg/L may still be consistent with iron deficiency in patients with IBD.15 A transferrin saturation of <16% is indicative of iron deficiency, either absolute or functional.15 Other findings on a complete blood count panel that are suggestive of iron deficiency anemia, but are not considered diagnostic, include microcytosis, hypochromia, and elevation of red cell distribution width.12,20 If laboratory values do not prove to be conclusive and suspicion of iron deficiency anemia remains, then a bone marrow aspirate and stain with low iron is considered by some to be evidence of a definitive diagnosis.12 Laboratory findings that distinguish iron deficiency anemia, anemia of chronic disease (also known as iron-restricted erythropoiesis and functional iron deficiency), and anemia of mixed origin are presented in Table 3. Hepcidin-25 assays that can better distinguish between iron deficiency anemia and anemia of chronic disease are currently being investigated.22,23

Table 2.

Diagnostic tests for iron deficiency anemia12,15–17,59,60

Test	Applicability
Complete blood count	Suggestive of iron deficiency Not the diagnostic test of choice for iron deficiency Hemoglobin, g/dL (to assess severity of anemia) ○ <13 – men ○ <12 – women
Serum ferritin	Diagnostic test of choice Adult levels, μg/L ○ <15 – diagnostic of iron deficiency ○ 15–50 – probable iron deficiency ○ 50–100 – possible iron deficiencya ○ >100 – iron deficiency unlikely ○ Persistently >1000 – consider test for iron overload
Other
Serum iron Iron-binding capacity Transferrin saturation	Low serum iron and high iron-binding capacity and transferrin saturation <16% may aid in the diagnosis of iron deficiency

Note:

^aSerum ferritin levels of 50–100 μg/L may be indicative of iron deficiency in IBD.

Abbreviation: IBD, inflammatory bowel disease.

Table 3.

Differential diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia, anemia of chronic disease, and anemia of mixed origin

	Iron deficiency anemia	Anemia of chronic disease	Anemia of mixed origin
Serum ferritina	Decreased	Normal or increased	Normal
Serum iron	Decreased	Decreased	Decreased
Transferrin	Increased	Decreased or normal	Decreased
Transferrin saturation	Decreased	Decreased	Decreased
Mean corpuscular volume	Decreased	Decreased or normal	Decreased or normal
Hemoglobin	Decreased	Decreased	Decreased
Iron-binding capacity	Increased	Decreased	Decreased to low normal
Serum transferrin receptor	Increased	Normal	Increased or normal
Serum transferrin receptor index	High (>2)	Low (<1)	High (>2)
C-reactive protein	Normal	Increased	Increased
Erythropoietin	Increased	Normal or slightly increased	Increased or normal
Cytokine levels	Normal	Increased	Increased

Notes:

^aThe normal range of ferritin values is between 30–100 μg/L. Copyright © 2009, World Journal of Gastroenterology. Adapted with permission from [Bermejo F, García- López S. A guide to diagnosis of iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia in digestive diseases. World J Gastroenterol. 2009;15(37):4638–4643].4 Adapted by permission from Macmillan Publishers Ltd: [Nature Reviews Gastroenterology and Hepatology]. Stein J, Hartmann F, Dignass AU. Diagnosis and management of iron deficiency anemia in patients with IBD. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2010;7(11):599–610. Copyright 2010.7

Goals of iron deficiency anemia therapy

Anemia is one of the most frequent comorbid conditions associated with mortality in patients with IBD,24 and it is a common cause of hospitalization and delay of discharge when hospitalized,15 which underscores the need for prompt diagnosis and management. The goals of treatment are to treat the underlying cause, limit further blood loss or malabsorption, avoid blood transfusions in hemodynamically stable patients, relieve symptoms, and improve quality of life.15,25 More specifically, therapeutic goals of treatment include normalizing hemoglobin levels within 4 weeks (or achieving an increase of >2 g/dL) and replenishing iron stores (transferrin saturation >30%).7

Management of iron deficiency anemia

In addition to treating underlying causes, iron supplementation should be administered to all patients with iron deficiency anemia.15,26 An algorithm for the management of iron deficiency anemia in patients with IBD and other GI diseases is shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1.

Algorithm for the management of iron deficiency anemia in patients with IBD and other GI diseases.

Notes:^aHigher levels of serum ferritin do not exclude the possibility of iron deficiency. Serum ferritin <100 μg/L may still be consistent with iron deficiency in patients with IBD;15^bonly iron dextrans have a broad indication for the treatment of iron deficiency anemia.

Adapted by permission from Macmillan Publishers Ltd: [Nature Reviews Gastroenterology and Hepatology]. Stein J, Hartmann F, Dignass AU. Diagnosis and management of iron deficiency anemia in patients with IBD. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2010;7(11):599-610, Copyright 2010.7

Abbreviations: Hb, hemoglobin; MCV, mean corpuscular volume; MCHC, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration; RDW, red cell distribution width; IBD, irritable bowel disease; CHF, congestive heart failure; GI, gastrointestinal; IV, intravenous; ESA, erythropoiesis-stimulating agent.

Oral iron therapy

Oral iron supplementation has been considered standard because of an established safety profile, lower cost, and ease of administration. It has been shown to be effective in correcting anemia and repleting iron stores.27,28 The most widely used oral iron supplements – ferrous fumarate, ferrous sulfate, and ferrous gluconate – contain the ferrous form of iron (Table 4). These agents differ by the amount of elemental iron available for absorption. Ferrous fumarate, ferrous sulfate, and ferrous gluconate contain 33%, 20%, and 12% of elemental iron, respectively.29 For example, a 325 mg tablet of ferrous sulfate contains 65 mg of elemental iron.

Table 4.

Comparison of oral iron preparations available in the United States

Oral iron preparation	Brand name(s)	Recommended dose	Elemental iron (mg)
Ferrous sulfate	Feosol®, Fer-Gen-Sol®, Fer-in-Sol®, Fer-Iron	325 mg three times/day	65
Ferrous gluconate	Fergon®	325 mg three times/day	38
Ferrous fumarate	Femiron, Ferretts, Ferro-Sequels®, Nephro-Fer®	324 mg three times/day	106

Note: Adapted by permission from Macmillan Publishers Ltd: [American Journal of Gastroenterology]. Rizvi S, Schoen RE. Supplementation with oral vs intravenous iron for anemia with IBD or gastrointestinal bleeding: is oral iron getting a bad rap? Am J Gastroenterol. 2011;106(11):1872–1879. Copyright 2011.61

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended that the dose of elemental iron for the prevention of iron deficiency anemia be 30 mg/day, with 60–120 mg/day recommended for treatment.30 However, the optimal dose of oral iron has not been established in IBD.15 Oral iron therapy for all patients with iron deficiency anemia is recommended to be continued for up to 5 months,7 or for at least 3 months, after the replenishment of iron stores.26

One concern with higher doses of daily oral iron is intolerance due to GI side effects. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, constipation, and melena-like stools.28 In a study of 57 patients, intolerance of oral iron resulted in discontinuation for approximately 20% of patients with and without IBD.31 The dark green or black stools seen with oral iron therapy can mimic melena. Because of a higher likelihood of GI events with oral iron and evidence from studies demonstrating efficacy at lower doses, supplementation with no more than 100 mg/day has been recommended in patients with IBD.7,15 Sustained-release formulations developed to help reduce GI intolerances are not recommended due to reduced absorption of oral iron.12

When considering oral iron therapy in patients with IBD, one must take into account the impact of worsening of existing inflammation. Results of a literature review of anemia in Crohn’s disease illustrated that oral iron exacerbates intestinal inflammation and colon carcinogenesis in animals with colitis.32 Proposed mechanisms of increased inflammation include oxidative stress and alteration of the bacterial milieu of the gut.33 Clinicians should consider the impact of increased hepcidin levels on the efficacy of oral iron therapy in patients with IBD. In patients with inflammatory conditions and presumed increases in hepcidin, intravenous (IV) iron may be the preferred choice of treatment compared with oral iron therapy. Other considerations with oral iron therapy include concomitant medications, foods, and drinks that interact with iron. Medications that raise gastric pH (ie, antacids, H₂-blockers, and proton pump inhibitors) can limit the intestinal absorption of iron.34 In addition, phytates from bran and tannates from tea also limit iron absorption.35,36 In patients with IBD, the reduced absorption and intolerance of oral iron therapy support an earlier use of IV iron in the treatment paradigm of iron deficiency anemia in IBD.

Intravenous iron therapy

IV iron is more efficacious than oral iron in IBD because of low iron absorption from the GI tract and lower adherence to oral therapy.3 Parenteral iron products consist of nanoparticles of iron oxyhydroxide gel in colloidal suspension held within a stabilizing carbohydrate shell.37 Available preparations in the United States include high molecular weight iron dextran (HMWD; DexFerrum^®, American Regent, Inc, Shirley, NY, USA),38 low molecular weight iron dextran (LMWD; INFeD^®, Watson Pharma, Inc, Morristown, NJ, USA),39 iron sucrose (Venofer^®; American Regent, Inc),40 ferric gluconate (Ferrlecit^®; Sanofi-Aventis, Bridgewater, NJ, USA),41 and ferumoxytol (Feraheme^®; AMAG Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Lexington, MA, USA).42 A comparison of IV iron preparations and their dosing, administration, and safety profiles is provided in Table 5.

Table 5.

Comparison of intravenous iron preparations available in the United States7,38–42

	LMWD	HMWD	Iron sucrose	Ferric gluconate	Ferumoxytol
Brand name	INFed®	DexFerrum®	Venofer®	Ferrlecit®	Feraheme®
Molecular weight (kD)	73	165	43.3	37.5	731
Labeled indication	Iron deficiency anemiaa	Iron deficiency anemiaa	Iron deficiency anemia in patients with CKD	Iron deficiency anemia in adults and children aged ≥6 years with CKD and receiving dialysis and supplemental epoetin	Iron deficiency anemia in adults with CKD
Dosing and administration
Test dose required	Yes Initial test dose of 0.5 mL required	Yes Initial test dose of 0.5 mL required	No	No	No
Adult recommended dose	According to LBW and observed Hb concentration: dose (mL) = 0.0442 (desired Hb − observed Hb) × LBW + (0.26 × LBW) eg, 70 kg adult with Hb range of 3–10 g/dL will require 55–33 mLb	According to LBW and observed Hb concentration: dose (mL) = 0.0442 (desired Hb − observed Hb) × LBW + (0.26 × LBW) eg, 70 kg adult with Hb range of 3–10 g/dL will require 55–33 mL	HDD-CKD: 100 mg slow IV injection (2–5 min) or infusion of 100 mg in max 100 mL normal saline over 15 min at each dialysis session for a total cumulative dose of 1000 mg NDD-CKD: 200 mg slow IV injection (2–5 min) on five separate occasions over 14 days for a total cumulative dose of 1000 mg PDD-CKD: total cumulative dose of 1000 mg by slow infusion in three divided doses over 28 days	125 mg in 10 mL diluted in 100 mL normal saline for IV infusion over 1 hour. Most pts will require a cumulative dose of 1000 mg delivered over eight sessions at sequential dialysis treatments	510 mg followed by a second 510 mg dose 3–8 days later administered undiluted as IV injection up to 1 mL/sec
Dosage adjustments	None	None	None	Lower doses may be required in elderly patients	None

Note:

^aOnly LMWD and HMWD have a broad indication for the treatment of iron deficiency anemia;

^banecdotally, total doses of 1 to 1.5 g LMWD are commonly used in clinical practice.

Abbreviations: LMWD, low molecular weight dextran; HMWD, high molecular weight dextran; CKD, chronic kidney disease; LBW, lean body weight; Hb, hemoglobin; HDD-CKD, hemodialysis dependent-chronic kidney disease; IV, intravenous; NDD-CKD, nondialysis dependent-chronic kidney disease; PDD-CKD, peritoneal dialysis-chronic kidney disease.

A common concern regarding the choice between IV and oral iron is the risk of serious and potentially life-threatening hypersensitivity reactions with IV iron. The incidence of severe adverse effects is lower with LMWD and newer IV iron formulations compared with HMWD.3 LMWD and HMWD require the administration of a test dose of 0.5 mL over at least 30 seconds for LMWD and at least 5 minutes for HMWD to assess for anaphylactic reactions.38,39 It is recommended that patients be observed for at least 1 hour following the test dose.38,39 Serious adverse reactions requiring intervention are rare and usually occur after the test dose but can occur during the infusion. The signs of anaphylaxis include sudden onset of difficult breathing and cardiovascular collapse.38,39 Patients with a history of multiple drug allergies are believed to be at increased risk for anaphylaxis with IV iron.38,39 It is recommended that IV iron be administered only where therapies and personnel trained in resuscitation and the management of anaphylaxis or hypersensitivity reactions are readily available.38–42

The administration of any of the available iron preparations can be associated with acute chest and back tightness, without accompanying hypotension, tachypnea, tachycardia, wheezing, stridor, and periorbital edema.43 These minor adverse events abate without therapy, rarely recur with rechallenge, and are more common in patients with an allergic diathesis.44 Tryptase levels, a marker for mast cell degranulation, are routinely found to be elevated in anaphylaxis,45 and can serve as a simple test to distinguish between anaphylaxis and a nonspecific reaction.

A minority of patients will experience self-limited arthralgias and myalgias the day after iron infusions. These reactions typically abate without therapy and administration of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may shorten their duration. Delayed reactions may also occur with LMWD and HMWD after larger infusions up to 24–48 hours after administration.38,39 Delayed reactions include arthralgia, myalgia, chills, fever, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting.38,39 Physicians frequently premedicate patients with diphenhydramine prior to the administration of LMWD. Premedication with diphenhydramine and acetaminophen prior to iron dextran infusions has been shown to reduce adverse events.46 In a single institution study, the adverse event rate per iron infusion was 4.4% (four events in 91 infusions) with premedication using diphenhydramine and acetaminophen compared with 12.3% (ten events in 81 infusions) without premedication (P = 0.054).46 However, in a study by Auerbach et al47 in 396 iron-deficient patients receiving 570 infusions of 1 g of LMWD in 1 hour without premedication (patients with allergic diathesis received pretreatment steroids), no serious adverse events were reported and only 2.3% of patients had an adverse event requiring treatment.

Ferric gluconate and iron sucrose are two iron salts indicated for the treatment of iron deficiency anemia in adult patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Ferric gluconate is indicated for patients with CKD receiving hemodialysis and supplemental epoetin therapy and can be given to pediatric patients aged ≥6 years old. Ferric gluconate and iron sucrose have the advantage of not needing the administration of a test dose; it is recommended that patients be observed for 30 minutes after administration.40,41

Ferumoxytol is the newest approved IV product in the United States and was recently approved in the European Union and Canada. It is currently indicated for the treatment of iron deficiency anemia in adults with CKD to be administered as a 510 mg bolus in >17 seconds. However, administration in around 1 minute has been recommended. 48 Ferumoxytol does not require a test dose and it does not require dilution for slow IV use, in contrast to iron sucrose and sodium ferric gluconate. Full iron repletion with ferumoxytol can be achieved with two sessions, compared with as many as three to ten sessions with iron sucrose.40,49,50 Ferumoxytol, like all IV iron products, can cause severe hypersensitivity reactions and patients should be observed for 30 minutes after administration.42 Other adverse events of ferumoxytol include nausea, dizziness, hypotension, and peripheral edema. IV preparations currently undergoing clinical investigation in the United States include ferric carboxymaltose (Injectafer^®/Ferinject^®; Luitpold Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Shirley, NY, USA) and iron isomaltoside 1000 (Monofer^®; Pharmacosmos A/S, Holbaek, Denmark).

Intravenous iron therapy in patients with IBD

Several smaller trials have investigated the use of LMWD for the treatment of iron deficiency anemia in patients with IBD. In a single-arm study of 50 adult patients, LMWD was associated with an increase in hemoglobin of 1.7 g/dL from baseline after 4 weeks of therapy. Four patients experienced an adverse reaction to the test infusion dose, and one patient experienced an allergic reaction after the total dose was infused.51 None of these reactions left any residual effects. In a case-matched study comparing the efficacy and safety of LMWD with oral iron, patients treated with LMWD were found to have significantly greater increments in hemoglobin from baseline after 8 weeks of therapy compared with oral iron (2.0 g/dL versus 0.6 g/dL; P < 0.0001).52 A total of 15% (5/33) of patients treated with oral iron experienced GI side effects, while 5.7% (2/35) of patients experienced an anaphylactic reaction to a test dose of LMWD.52

Two randomized controlled studies have compared the efficacy and safety of IV iron sucrose to oral iron therapy in patients with IBD.53,54 In one 20-week study of 91 patients with IBD, significantly more patients randomized to receive IV iron sucrose completed treatment compared with oral iron therapy (96% versus 76%; P = 0.0009), and more patients had increased hemoglobin ≥2.0 g/dL, although the difference was not statistically significant (66% versus 47%; P = 0.07).53 A second smaller study of 6 weeks’ duration compared a single dose of iron sucrose 7 mg/kg followed by five infusions of 200 mg each week (n = 22) versus oral iron sulfate at 100–200 mg daily for 6 weeks (n = 24). A comparable median increase in hemoglobin levels was observed in both treatment groups.54 Fewer patients randomized to receive iron sucrose discontinued the study due to side effects compared with oral iron therapy (4.5% versus 20.8%).54 No clinical trials to date have investigated the use of ferric gluconate for the treatment of iron deficiency anemia in patients with IBD.

Ferric carboxymaltose is approved for use in Europe only and has been shown to be effective and safe in IBD-associated iron deficiency anemia in two randomized studies.55,56 In a study by Kulnigg et al,56 patients were randomized 2:1 to receive IV ferric carboxymaltose up to a weekly maximum of 1000 mg (or 15 mg/kg if body weight was <65 kg) until the calculated iron deficit by the Ganzoni formula7,57

$$\text{Iron\hspace{0.17em}deficit}\hspace{0.17em}[\text{mg}]=\text{Body\hspace{0.17em}weight\hspace{0.17em}}[\text{kg}]\times (\text{Target\hspace{0.17em}hemoglobin}-\text{Actual\hspace{0.17em}hemoglobin\hspace{0.17em}}[\text{g}/\text{dL}])\times 2.4+\text{Stored}\hspace{0.17em}\text{iron\hspace{0.17em}}[500\hspace{0.17em}\text{mg}]$$

was reached, or until they received oral iron sulfate 100 mg twice daily for 12 weeks.56 At 12 weeks, ferric carboxymaltose was found to be noninferior to iron sulfate for the primary endpoint of the change from baseline in hemoglobin (3.6 g/dL versus 3.0 g/dL; P = 0.6967).56 More patients discontinued iron sulfate treatment than ferric carboxymaltose by the end of the study (7.9% versus 1.5%; P = 0.057), and there was no statistically significant difference in the adverse event profile detected between groups (P = 0.0693).56 A second study compared three infusions of 1000 or 500 mg of ferric carboxymaltose to 200 mg infusions of iron sucrose based on Ganzoni-calculated iron deficit up to a maximum of 11 infusions.55 More patients treated with ferric carboxymaltose achieved the primary endpoint of a hemoglobin response of ≥2 g/dL compared to those treated with iron sucrose (65.8% versus 53.6%; P = 0.004). Overall, there was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of any adverse event for ferric carboxymaltose or iron sucrose (P = 0.413), although significantly more hypophosphatemia occurred in the ferric carboxymaltose group (2.5% versus 0.0%; P = 0.030).55

Phase 3 clinical trials are currently ongoing to evaluate the use of ferumoxytol in patients with iron deficiency anemia, including subgroups of patients with IBD (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01114139, NCT01114217, and NCT01114204. A Phase 3 clinical trial of iron isomaltoside (NCT01017614) and a Phase 4 study of iron sucrose (NCT01067547) are currently recruiting patients with iron deficiency anemia and IBD.

Indications of IV iron therapy

Guidelines on the Diagnosis and Management of Iron Deficiency and Anemia in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases recommend IV iron therapy over oral iron supplementation in the treatment of iron deficiency anemia in patients with IBD, citing faster and prolonged response to treatment, decreased irritation of existing GI inflammation, improved patient tolerance, and improved quality of life.15 Patients with severe anemia (hemoglobin level of <10 g/dL), failure to respond or intolerance to oral iron therapy, severe intestinal disease, or patients receiving concomitant erythropoietin are recommended indications for IV iron therapy (Table 6).15 Other conditions where patients should be considered for first-line IV therapy over oral therapy include congestive heart failure, upper GI bleeding, and in situations where rapid correction of anemia may be required.3,7

Table 6.

Indications for IV iron therapy3,15

Indications for IV iron therapy in patients with GI disease Severe anemia (hemoglobin value <10 g/dL) Patients with symptoms such as dyspnea on mild exertion, tachycardia, severe fatigue, and ongoing gross blood loss from the GI tract, irrespective of hemoglobin level Patients in need of quick recovery Intolerance to oral iron therapy Failure of oral iron therapy Severe intestinal disease activity Concomitant erythropoietic therapy Patient preference

When to consider using IV iron as first-line therapy Inflammatory bowel disease Situations that require a rapid correction of anemia, such as those requiring an elective procedure in a few weeks (ie, preoperative) Congestive heart failure Upper GI bleeding (replete iron with IV not oral; practical issue of black stools from oral iron)

Abbreviations: IV, intravenous; GI, gastrointestinal.

Data for the management and follow-up of IBD patients with iron deficiency anemia who have been successfully treated with IV iron is lacking. It is recommended to measure hemoglobin levels within 4 weeks in patients who have symptomatic anemia in order to gauge the therapeutic response.15 An increase in hemoglobin of 2 g/dL or normalization of hemoglobin levels is considered to be a positive response to therapy.15 Monitoring of serum ferritin levels every 3 months for at least 4–6 weeks after therapy with a target of >400 μg/L has also been proposed.7,58

Conclusion

The major goal in treating patients with IBD and iron deficiency anemia is to correct the underlying cause of anemia, increase hemoglobin levels to normal values, and replenish iron stores. Iron deficiency anemia may significantly impact patients’ quality of life and morbidity. Although some patients with IBD may respond to oral iron supplementation, recent evidence from clinical studies and clinical experience supports that IV iron repletion is preferable. Although few head-to- head clinical trials have been conducted, newer IV iron preparations are more convenient with rapid infusion times and no requirement for test dosing. Patients with IBD should be checked for iron deficiency whenever they are anemic and have serum ferritin levels of <100 μg/L, which is consistent with iron deficiency in IBD.