• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Transfusion News
  • About Us
  • Topics
    • Adverse Events (non-infectious)
    • Blood Donation
    • Cell Therapy
    • Coagulation & Plasma Transfusion
    • Platelet Transfusion
    • Policy and Guidelines
    • Quality Control and Regulatory
    • RBC Transfusion
    • Serology/Genotyping
    • Special Transfusion Situations
    • Transfusion Transmitted Infections
  • Continuing Education
  • Archives
  • Podcasts
  • Question of the Day
  • Search
  • Subscribe to Email Alerts
  • Follow us on
  • Search
  • Subscribe to Email Alerts

Systematic Review Suggests Intravenous Iron Therapy Benefits Outweigh Risks

September 13, 2013

A systematic review published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) has concluded that intravenous iron therapy effectively increases hemoglobin concentrations and reduces the need for allogeneic red cell transfusions. The authors suggested that potential clinical benefits of intravenous iron outweighed potential risks. The review included 72 randomized controlled trials from 1966 to 2013, which involved more than 10,000 patients. The meta-analysis found that intravenous iron therapy was associated with an average hemoglobin increase of 6.5 g/L and a 26% reduction in the need for red cell transfusion. However, intravenous iron was also associated with a significantly increased risk of infection (relative risk = 1.33).

Reference

1.    Litton E, Xiao J, Ho KM. Safety and efficacy of intravenous iron therapy in reducing requirement for allogeneic blood transfusion: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised clinical trials. BMJ 2013;347: f4822.

Filed Under

  • News

Recommended

  • Low Threat of an Ebola Outbreak in High-Resource Countries

  • No Increased Risk of Blood Donations from MSM after Temporary Deferrals

  • Pathogen Reduction Technology Safe and Effective for Red Blood Cell Transfusions in Pediatric Patients with Cancer

Show Comments

Comments on this article are closed.

Get the latest news. Subscribe to our mailing list. Sign Up

Primary Sidebar

Latest News

  • Multifaceted Threats to the Blood Supply from Climate Change

  • Distinct Roles for Differently Aged Platelets

  • Anemia Treatment Bundle Improves Hemoglobin Recovery after Critical Illness

  • Prothrombin Complex Concentrate Is Safe and Effective for Cardiac Surgery Patients with Coagulopathic Bleeding

    Question of the Day

    Copyright © 2025 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    Privacy Policy

    Association for the Advancement of Blood and Biotherapies Wiley