THE ANEMIA OF INFECTION. XIV. RESPONSE TO MASSIVE DOSES OF INTRAVENOUSLY ADMINISTERED SACCHARATED OXIDE OF IRON 1

Abstract

The effects of massive amts. (1-2.2 g.) of intraven. saccharated oxide of Fe (Ferrivenin) were observed in 14 patients with various types of infection who manifested hypoferremia and, in all but one, anemia. Despite the large doses given and an elevation of serum Fe immediately following treatment, in no instance where the associated illness persisted following therapy was the hypoferremia permanently corrected. In no case was there a reticulocytosis or Hb rise comparable to that obtained in patients with Fe deficiency anemia. The avg. mean daily Hb rise in 30 days following treatment was 0.035 g.% with extremes of 0 and 0.087, as compared with an avg. of 0.2 g.%, with a range of 0.14-0.27 in cases of Fe deficiency anemia. Studies on urinary Fe excretion in 3 treated patients with infection indicated that 1.5-7% of the Fe given was excreted by this route. The excretion in one Fe deficient patient represented only 0.8% of the total amt. given. Fe analysis of purulent exudate in 1 treated patient with a chronic draining empyema showed no significant difference in Fe content before and after the intraven. admn. of 0.3 g. of Fe. Fe analysis of viscera obtained from 2 treated patients who subsequently died showed that an amt. corresponding to 46-88% of the administered Fe was recoverable in the liver and spleen. The results indicate that the anemia and hypoferremia of infection are not appreciably influenced by the intraven. admn. of large quantities of Fe.