1.
Using iron-based phosphate binders in phosphate reduction and anemia improvement in patients receiving dialysis: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Zhu, Y, Rao, J, Liao, X, Ou, J, Li, W, Xue, C
International urology and nephrology. 2021;(9):1899-1909
Abstract
PURPOSE A study was conducted to determine whether iron-based phosphate binders (IBPBs) need to be preferred for hyperphosphatemia and anemia management in patients on dialysis. METHODS For this meta-analysis, we searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for randomized controlled trials that evaluated the efficacy and safety of IBPBs in decreasing phosphate and correcting anemia in dialysis patients. RESULTS Nineteen trials comprising 4719 participants were included. Compared with placebo, serum phosphate decreased significantly after treatment with ferric citrate (FC), fermagate (one study), and SBR759 (one study). Hemoglobin increased significantly after treatment with FC and sucroferric oxyhydroxide (PA21). In addition, FC and PA21 reduced serum intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) and increased ferritin and transferrin saturation, but SBR759 did not. Compared with active treatment, the non-inferiority of IBPBs in reducing serum phosphate and iPTH was demonstrated. FC significantly improved serum hemoglobin and iron-related parameters and decreased the use of intravenous iron and erythropoiesis-stimulating agent, whereas PA21 did not increase serum hemoglobin level. The incidences of infection and hospitalization were similar between the two groups, with FC having a higher risk of diarrhea than the placebo and active treatments. CONCLUSION FC was associated with the control of hyperphosphatemia and the improvement of anemia. However, PA21 did not show superiority for alleviating anemia compared with the active treatment. Other IBPBs, such as fermagate and SBR759, remained poorly understood due to the limited number of studies. Further trials are required to assess the effect of IBPBs on the risk of cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality.
2.
Efficacy and tolerability of intravenous iron for patients with restless legs syndrome: evidence from randomized trials and observational studies.
Yang, X, Yang, B, Ming, M, Li, S, Wang, F, Zhu, Z, Ji, C, Long, J, Hu, F, Xu, Z, et al
Sleep medicine. 2019;:110-117
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a common neurological disorder of unclear pathophysiology that appears to involve an iron deficiency in the brain. Some studies, but not others, suggest that intravenous injection of iron can reduce RLS severity. METHOD The databases Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, and SinoMed were searched for randomized controlled trials, cohort studies and case-control studies of intravenous iron therapy to treat RLS. Eligible studies were meta-analyzed using Stata 12.0. RESULTS This analysis indicated that IV iron was more efficacious than placebo in treating RLS (OR: 4.71,95%CI 4.21-5.21,p < 0.0001). According to sub-group analysis, either IV ferric carboxymaltose (FCM) or iron sucrose was more efficacious than placebo in treating RLS. Adverse events did not differ significantly between patients receiving intravenous iron or placebo (OR 1.68, 95%CI 0.92-3.07, p = 0.093). The present study also indicated after accepting IV iron treatment the IRLS score in RLS patients decreased (OR = 6.75,95%CI 4.02-9.49, p < 0.0001). The subgroup analysis showed that IV iron dextran, iron sucrose, and FCM could alleviate the IRLS score. CONCLUSION The available evidence suggests that intravenous iron is effective and tolerable for patients with RLS regardless of peripheral iron status.
3.
Effects of ferric carboxymaltose on hospitalisations and mortality rates in iron-deficient heart failure patients: an individual patient data meta-analysis.
Anker, SD, Kirwan, BA, van Veldhuisen, DJ, Filippatos, G, Comin-Colet, J, Ruschitzka, F, Lüscher, TF, Arutyunov, GP, Motro, M, Mori, C, et al
European journal of heart failure. 2018;(1):125-133
Abstract
AIMS: Iron deficiency (ID) is a common co-morbidity in patients with heart failure (HF) and has been suggested to be associated with poor prognosis. Recently completed double-blind randomised controlled trials (RCTs) studying HF patients with ID have shown improvements in functional capacity, symptoms and quality of life when treated with i.v. ferric carboxymaltose (FCM). This individual patient data meta-analysis investigates the effect of FCM vs. placebo on recurrent hospitalisations and mortality in HF patients with ID. METHODS AND RESULTS Individual patient data were extracted from four RCTs comparing FCM with placebo in patients with systolic HF and ID. The main outcome measures were recurrent cardiovascular (CV) hospitalisations and CV mortality. Other outcomes included cause-specific hospitalisations and death. The main analyses of recurrent events were backed up by time-to-first-event analyses. In total, 839 patients, of whom 504 were randomised to FCM, were included. Compared with those taking placebo, patients on FCM had lower rates of recurrent CV hospitalisations and CV mortality [rate ratio 0.59, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.40-0.88; P = 0.009]. Treatment with FCM also reduced recurrent HF hospitalisations and CV mortality (rate ratio 0.53, 95% CI 0.33-0.86; P = 0.011) and recurrent CV hospitalisations and all-cause mortality (rate ratio 0.60, 95% CI 0.41-0.88; P = 0.009). Time-to-first-event analyses showed similar findings, with somewhat attenuated treatment effects. The administration of i.v. FCM was not associated with an increased risk for adverse events. CONCLUSIONS Treatment with i.v. FCM was associated with a reduction in recurrent CV hospitalisations in systolic HF patients with ID.