Ferric carboxymaltose

Ferric carboxymaltose is a type of intravenous iron preparation, a category of iron supplements that are used to treat iron-deficiency anemia. It is a complex of iron (III) hydroxide with carboxymaltose, a carbohydrate polymer.

Chemistry

Ferric carboxymaltose is a complex of iron (III) hydroxide with carboxymaltose, a carbohydrate polymer. The iron is present in the ferric state, and the complex is stable, which prevents the release of a significant amount of free iron into the circulation.

Medical uses

Ferric carboxymaltose is used to treat iron-deficiency anemia in adults when oral iron preparations are ineffective or cannot be used. It is also used to treat iron deficiency in adults with chronic kidney disease, and in adults with heart failure and iron deficiency.

Side effects

The most common side effects of ferric carboxymaltose include nausea, injection site reactions, hypertension, and increased levels of certain enzymes in the blood. Serious side effects can include severe allergic reactions and hypophosphatemia.

Pharmacology

Ferric carboxymaltose is administered intravenously. Once in the body, it is taken up by cells of the reticuloendothelial system, which metabolize the complex and release the iron. The iron is then either stored in the body or used to make hemoglobin.

History

Ferric carboxymaltose was approved for medical use in the European Union in 2007, and in the United States in 2013.

See also

• Iron-deficiency anemia
• Intravenous iron
• Iron supplement