What is the recommended regimen for pediatric iron infusion in children with iron deficiency?

Pediatric Iron Infusion Regimen for Iron Deficiency

For children with iron deficiency requiring intravenous iron, iron sucrose is the recommended preparation at a dose of 3-6 mg/kg per infusion (maximum 100-125 mg per dose) for children over 2 years of age, administered as intermittent infusions. 1

Patient Selection for IV Iron Therapy

Iron infusion should be considered in the following scenarios:

• Patients receiving long-term parenteral nutrition who cannot maintain adequate iron status with enteral supplementation 1
• Children with incomplete response to oral iron therapy 2
• Children with severe anemia requiring rapid correction 3
• Poor compliance with oral iron therapy 3
• Gastrointestinal conditions affecting iron absorption (inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, intestinal failure) 2

Recommended Iron Preparations

1. Iron Sucrose (First Choice):

   • Most studied iron preparation in children
   • Approved in the USA for use in children from 2 years of age
   • Fewer adverse events compared to iron dextran 1, 4
   • Dosing: 3-6 mg/kg per infusion (maximum 100-125 mg per dose)

2. Ferric Gluconate (Alternative):

   • Studied in pediatric patients with renal disease
   • Dosing for children <40 kg: 62.5 mg/dose
   • Dosing for children >40 kg: 125 mg/dose 5
   • FDA approved for use in children with chronic kidney disease 6

3. Ferric Carboxymaltose:

   • Limited pediatric data but emerging as an option
   • Advantage of fewer infusions required compared to iron sucrose 3
   • Maximum dose of 1000 mg reported in pediatric studies 1

Dosing Protocol

For Intermittent Infusions:

• Preterm infants: 200-250 μg/kg/day 1
• Infants and children: 50-100 μg/kg/day (maximum 5 mg/day) 1
• Children with chronic kidney disease:
  • <10 kg: 25 mg per dose
  • 10-20 kg: 50 mg per dose

  • 20 kg: 100 mg per dose 1

Administration Guidelines:

• Dilute in normal saline (0.9% sodium chloride)
• Infuse over 1 hour to minimize risk of adverse reactions 6
• For iron sucrose: typically administered as 8 sequential infusions for complete iron repletion 4
• Monitor vital signs during infusion

Monitoring Parameters

1. Before Starting Therapy:

   • Complete blood count (hemoglobin, hematocrit)
   • Iron studies (serum ferritin, transferrin saturation)

2. During Therapy:

   • Monitor for adverse reactions during infusion (hypersensitivity, hypotension)
   • Vital signs during administration

3. After Therapy:

   • Measure hemoglobin and iron studies 2-4 weeks after completing therapy 1, 4
   • Regular monitoring of iron status (at least ferritin and hemoglobin) for patients on long-term parenteral iron 1

Expected Response

• Hemoglobin increase of 0.8-1.3 g/dL within 2-4 weeks 6, 4
• Significant improvements in serum ferritin and transferrin saturation 4
• Maintained hemoglobin response at 4 weeks post-infusion 6

Precautions and Adverse Effects

• Test dose recommended before treatment with iron dextran due to higher risk of allergic reactions 1
• Most common adverse reactions: pain at infusion site, hypotension
• Serious adverse events are rare with iron sucrose and ferric gluconate 1, 4
• Avoid adding iron preparations to lipid emulsions or all-in-one admixtures as it may destabilize the emulsion 1

Clinical Pearls

• IV iron therapy results in more rapid repletion of iron stores compared to oral therapy 2
• Children with previous adverse reactions to iron dextran may tolerate iron sucrose without problems 5
• For patients requiring long-term iron supplementation, periodic IV iron may be more effective than struggling with daily oral iron compliance 2
• Patients with severe anemia (Hgb <7 g/dL) may particularly benefit from IV iron as first-line therapy 7