Anemia Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Anemia, including details on symptoms, diagnosis, diet, treatment, causes.

Iron absorption during epoetin alfa therapy for chemotherapy-associated anaemia.

Savonije JH, van Groeningen CJ, van den Broek WJ, Rentinck ME, Corstens FH, Gundy C, Giaccone G, Marx JJ

Department of Medical Oncology, VU Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Absorption of a physiological dose of ferrous iron was studied in 18 patients with solid malignancy receiving epoetin therapy for mild chemotherapy-associated anemia. The historical control group consisted of 25 iron replete volunteers (iron absorption 20 +/- 11% in males and 26 +/- 13% in females) and 21 patients with uncomplicated iron deficiency (iron absorption 71 +/- 19%). Iron absorption was increased in the majority of the cancer patients (iron absorption 59 +/- 35%). There were no significant differences in iron absorption between cancer patients who were iron replete or iron deficient according to current clinical practice guidelines (iron deficiency: transferrin saturation < 20% and/or serum ferritin < 100 ng/mL). Red cell iron incorporation was not disturbed in the majority (89%) of patients.

Published 19 September 2006 in Cancer Invest, 24(6): 562-6.
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