Iron Dosing Affects Dialysis Patients’ Infection Risk

Providing a large amount of intravenous iron over a short period of time (bolus dosing) was associated with increased risks of serious infection and infection-related death in a JASN study of 117,050 dialysis patients who were followed for 3 months. Twelve percent received bolus dosing of iron, 49% received maintenance dosing, and 38% received no iron. With bolus dosing, there were 25 additional infections per 1000 patient-years compared with maintenance dosing. Risks were particularly high among patients who used a catheter for dialysis and for those with a history of recent infection. Maintenance dosing did not increase patients’ infection risk.