Indications for intravenous iron supplementation

Intravenous iron supplementation allows rapid replacement of iron and is appropriate for patients with iron deficiency and symptomatic anaemia, chronic kidney disease, anaemia associated with malignancy, patients who do not tolerate or cannot absorb oral iron (eg after gastrectomy, or occasionally, after bariatric surgery) and for most iron-deficient patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Explain the indications for intravenous iron supplementation to the patient, and discuss the harms and benefits of intravenous compared with oral iron supplementation. For information about adverse effects associated with intravenous iron supplementation, see Monitoring for adverse effects of intravenous iron supplementationRichards, 2021.