IV iron proves effective for children with anemia

A new review has found that intravenous (IV) iron treatment is effective for children with anemia who do not respond to oral iron or folic acid. The research team, led by Dr. Ranadip Chowdhury, analyzed studies over the past 20 years but noted there is still a lack of understanding about why some children do not respond to oral treatment. The review included seven studies and highlighted that IV management, particularly using a drug called ferric carboxymaltose (FCM), showed better success for iron non-responders. However, the team emphasized the need for further research to understand the reasons for treatment failure, especially in low and middle-income countries. Anemia is a common condition where there is not enough hemoglobin in the blood, which can affect children's growth and increase health risks. The World Health Organization estimates that around 40% of children aged 6 to 59 months suffer from anemia, often due to poor nutrition. Oral iron and folic acid are regularly used to help these children, but up to 60% may not see improvements after treatment. This situation calls for different treatment options, including IV iron therapy, blood transfusions, and dietary changes. The review studied children under five who did not respond to standard oral treatments. Out of 14,242 initial studies screened, only seven were relevant to this analysis. Non-responsiveness was defined as not having a significant rise in hemoglobin after 8 to 12 weeks of treatment. The various studies showed different levels of success with oral iron. One study noted that an infection could affect iron absorption, while switching to better-absorbed iron forms improved outcomes for some children. IV iron treatment has shown promising results. One study found that patients treated with a single dose of FCM had a notable increase in hemoglobin levels after 12 weeks. Another trial found that a higher percentage of women treated with IV FCM had improved hemoglobin compared to those taking oral iron. The review emphasizes the effectiveness of IV iron in treating anemia and calls for more tailored approaches to medicine for children and vulnerable populations. It is the first of its kind to specifically address non-responders to oral iron therapy, providing important insight into this pressing health issue.