Z Gastroenterol 2011; 49 - P097
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1285369

Effects of intravenous iron supplementation on non-hematological symptoms in inflammatory bowel disease patients

J Kunath 1, A Dignass 1, 2, S Vollmer 3, W Klemm 4, S Weber-Mangal 5, F Hartmann 1, 6, J Stein 1, 7
  • 1Crohn Colitis Centre Rhein Main, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
  • 2Agaplesion Markus Hospital, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
  • 3Gastroenterological Practice, Goeppingen, Germany
  • 4Gastroenterological Practice, Cottbus, Germany
  • 5Vifor Pharma Germany GmbH, München, Germany
  • 6St. Marienkrankenhaus, Medical Clinic, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
  • 7St. Elisabethen-Krankenhaus, Frankfurt am Main, Germany

Background/aim: Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) represents the most common systemic complication in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Evidence from studies in nephrology show that the treatment of anemia improves not only hematological parameters, but also non-hematological symptoms, i.e. cognitive functions (CF), loss of hair, and restless leg syndrome (RLS). These improvements were mainly seen in patients with iron deficiency. The present non-interventional study (NIS) examined the association between changes in hemoglobin (Hb) and non-hematological symptoms in IBD patients suffering from IDA.

Methods: Up to December 2010, 237 IBD patients (86 Crohn's disease [CD] and 65 ulcerative colitis [UC]) from 54 centers were included in the NIS. Mean patient age was 39 (range: 36–83) years with 79 (41%) male patients included. Enrolled subjects suffered from IBD and anemia and had received care at their study center for at least 12 months prior study inclusion. During the 12 week observational period, all patients received at least one infusion of ferric(III) carboxymaltose (ferinject®, Vifor Pharma). Of these, 150 patients were included in the evaluation population.

Results: Mean hemoglobin (Hb) at baseline was 10.1±1.4g/dL, serum ferritin 52.9±126.3µg/L and transferrin saturation (TSAT) 15.0±13.4%. Patients received on average 1125mg (CD 974mg vs. UC 1291mg) iron over the observational period. At the end of study visit mean Hb-value was 12.3±1.6g/dL, serum ferritin 107.9±148.1µg/L and TSAT 25.1±14.0%. Amongst the patients who reported moderate to severe non-hematological symptoms over the observational period, the following percentages of patients self-reported improvements between baseline and Week 12: Fatigue 73.6%, RLS 78.0%, lack of concentration 72.5%, headache 60.6%, loss hair 65.9%. No serious or unexpected AEs were reported.

Conclusion: In addition to improving Hb levels, the administration of intravenous iron also effectively and safely improves non-hematological symptoms in patients with IBD-associated anemia.