What is the expected increase in hemoglobin (Hb) level per 200mg iron sucrose (iron sucrose) intravenous (IV) injection for a 28-year-old female with severe anemia (hemoglobin level of 6 grams per deciliter) and a weight of 68 kilograms (kg)?

Expected Hemoglobin Increase with 200mg Iron Sucrose IV in Severe Anemia

For a 28-year-old female with severe anemia (Hb 6 g/dL) weighing 68kg, a single 200mg iron sucrose IV injection can be expected to increase hemoglobin by approximately 0.5-1.0 g/dL within 2-4 weeks of administration. 1

Mechanism and Expected Response

Iron sucrose is an effective intravenous iron preparation that helps correct iron deficiency anemia by providing elemental iron directly into the bloodstream. The response to iron sucrose therapy depends on several factors:

• Baseline hemoglobin level: With a very low starting Hb of 6 g/dL, the patient has significant room for improvement
• Dose-response relationship: Each 100mg of iron sucrose typically raises hemoglobin by 0.5-1.0 g/dL 1
• Timing of response: Initial hemoglobin increases are usually observed within 2-4 weeks after administration

Dosing Considerations for Severe Anemia

For a patient with severe anemia (Hb 6 g/dL), a single 200mg dose will provide initial improvement but will not be sufficient for complete correction. Based on the patient's weight and severity of anemia:

• Total iron deficit calculation: For a 68kg patient with Hb 6 g/dL aiming to reach Hb 12 g/dL, the total iron deficit is approximately 1000-1200mg
• Standard dosing protocol: 200mg iron sucrose per session, typically administered once or twice weekly 1
• Multiple doses needed: Complete correction will require multiple doses (typically 5-6 doses of 200mg each)

Clinical Evidence Supporting Response Rate

Research studies confirm the effectiveness of iron sucrose in raising hemoglobin levels:

• In a 2025 study of female patients with iron deficiency anemia, 200mg iron sucrose given twice weekly increased mean hemoglobin from 8.05 g/dL to 11.23 g/dL after one month of treatment 2
• Another study showed that iron sucrose increased mean hemoglobin from 8.54 g/dL to 12.1 g/dL after completing the full treatment course 3
• Average increases in hemoglobin levels were 3.29 g/dL for women and 4.58 g/dL for men after completing the full iron sucrose treatment regimen 3

Monitoring and Follow-up

For optimal results and safety:

• Monitor hemoglobin: Check levels every 4 weeks until normalization 1
• Reassess iron status: Re-evaluate iron parameters (ferritin, transferrin saturation) 3 months after completing iron therapy 1
• Watch for side effects: Most common include dizziness, headache, hypertension, injection-site reactions, and nausea (occurring in 1-10% of patients) 1

Important Considerations

• Single dose limitations: A single 200mg dose will provide only partial correction of severe anemia
• Need for multiple doses: Complete correction of severe anemia (Hb 6 g/dL) will require a series of iron sucrose injections
• Response variability: Individual response may vary based on underlying cause of anemia, presence of inflammation, and other medical conditions
• Safety profile: Iron sucrose has a favorable safety profile compared to other IV iron preparations, with no test dose required 1

For this patient with severe anemia (Hb 6 g/dL), while a single 200mg dose will provide an initial increase of approximately 0.5-1.0 g/dL, a complete treatment course with multiple doses will be necessary to achieve target hemoglobin levels.