Rationale and Design of the IRON-HF Study: A Randomized Trial to Assess the Effects of Iron Supplementation in Heart Failure Patients With Anemia

Anemia and the potential role of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents in heart failure

“…These preliminary studies support the conduct of IRON-HF, a multicenter, randomized trial designed to assess the effects of iron supplementation in HF patients with anemia [ 62 ].…”

Future Directions in Management of Anemia in Heart Failure

“…Patients are currently being recruited for a randomized trial to assess the effects of iron supplementation in patients with HF and anemia (Iron-HF). 42 Encouraging results from these studies, with improvement in cytokines, suggest that iron therapy alone may be preferred for treatment of anemia of HF, although large randomized controlled studies with attention to safety data will be necessary before such a recommendation is made.…”

Anemia in Heart Failure

“…Newer intravenous iron preparations such as iron sucrose and ferric gluconate have a much lower incidence of adverse side effects than older agents such as iron dextran and can be used in patients who do not adequately absorb oral iron. Intravenous iron therapy alone may improve anemia in many HF patients (14) and is being studied in a large randomized trial, IRON-HF (15).…”