The Effect of Parenteral Iron Therapy on the Systemic Inflammatory Response and Oxidative Stress in Chronic Hemodialysis Patients

Parenteral iron therapy is now commonly administered to dialysis patients with the majority of patients receiving this therapy as part of the treatment for their anemia. Although intravenous iron has improved clinical response to recombinant erythropoietin, there is a concern that iron therapy may have deleterious effects in Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) patients. Iron can damage tissues by catalyzing the conversion of hydrogen peroxide to free-radical ions that attack cellular proteins, DNA and membranes as part of oxidative stress. Numerous in vitro studies have shown tissue toxicity from iron and increased infectious potential. Oxidative stress can also lead to activation of the systemic inflammatory response with the release of a number of key cytokines and growth factors. There is now a link between inflammation, oxidative stress and acceleration of vascular disease in both patients with normal as well as reduced renal function. In a study comparing normal versus low hematocrit levels in hemodialysis patients, mortality was higher in the normal hematocrit group. The major difference between the two groups has been attributed to the fact that patients in the normal hematocrit group received significantly more iron than the patients with low hematocrit. There was a 2.4 fold greater mortality rate in patients receiving parenteral iron.

The effect of parenteral iron administration on activation of the systemic inflammatory response in hemodialysis patients has not been evaluated. The purpose of this study is to measure a number of key cytokines, inflammatory and oxidative stress markers in hemodialysis patients receiving iron repletion therapy as part of their standard care.