Do Parenteral Iron Therapies Preserve or Deteriorate Kidney Functions? "Iron Carboxy Maltose or Iron Sucrose?"

Background: Treatment of end stage renal disease (ESRD) is based on preserving renal functions. Since renal anemia is frequently detected, we use parenteral iron treatments in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, there need to be more precise and sufficient studies on the effect of these treatments on the rate of decrease in the glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Therefore, we conducted a study comparing the rates of change in renal function in patients who had used parenteral iron for at least five years.

Methods: Our study is a retrospective cohort study, and 180 patients with CKD (86 women, 94 men, mean age: 63.5 ± 11.4 years) who had been followed and treated in nephrology outpatient clinics for at least five years and met the study criteria were included in the study. Patients were divided into three groups for iron therapy: not receiving iron therapy, iron carboxy maltose (ICM), and iron sucrose (IS) parenterally. Each group consisted of 60 people. The first and last creatinine and GFR values were compared for a 5-year follow-up in each group.

Results: There was no significant difference between the two groups, those using and those not using iron, regarding creatinine increase and GFR decrease rate. Additionally, no significant difference was detected in the GFR decline rates of patients using ICM and IS.

Conclusions: This study reduces the concerns that correcting anemia through parenteral iron therapy in patients with CKD may harm renal function.