The Treatment of Iron-Deficiency Anemia with Intravenous Iron Dextran

Iron-dextran, in doses up to 3000 mg., was administered intravenously by single injection to 37 patients with iron deficiency and to 8 additional patients with acute gastrointestinal bleeding. No serious untoward effects were observed. One patient developed chills and mild abdominal cramps 8 hours after injection. Most of the iron could be accounted for in the circulating blood immediately after the injection. Iron was cleared from the plasma slowly for 3 weeks after the administration. Iron-dextran appears to be a safe and well-tolerated intravenous preparation. It is especially useful in the treatment of iron-deficiency in immobilized patients and individuals with small muscle mass.