Early Efficacy and Hypophosphatemia After Ferric Carboxymaltose Infusion Therapy in Patients With Iron Deficiency Anemia: A Single-Center Experience

The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of ferric carboxymaltose (FCM) in the correction of iron deficiency anemia and to determine the frequency and level of hypophosphatemia as a side effect. The data on 28 patients treated in Sestre milosrdnice University Hospital Center with one or two applications of FCM in a single dose of 1000 mg, depending on the severity of anemia, was retrospectively analyzed. The inclusion criteria were hemoglobin < 110 g/L, iron saturation < 20%, ferritin < 30 μg/L and phosphate > 0.79 mmol/L. Parameters analyzed before and two weeks after FCM application were complete blood count (CBC), ferritin, and calcium and phosphate values, while vitamin D and creatinine levels were determined only once before application. After parenteral iron supplementation, the expected correction of hemoglobin values and iron deficiency occurred. The difference in phosphate values before and after FCM application was statistically significant. The onset of asymptomatic mild to moderate hypophosphatemia was reported in 67.86% patients. In this study, baseline hemoglobin and phosphate values were predictive factors of the degree of hypophosphatemia after FCM administration.