Intravenous Iron as an Alternative to Blood Transfusion in Cancer Patients: A Single Center Experience.

This article focuses on the real-world effectiveness and safety of intravenous (IV) iron therapy in treating anemia among cancer patients, including those receiving supportive care alone, at a tertiary oncology center in Hong Kong. The retrospective study of 283 treatment episodes found that IV iron significantly increased mean hemoglobin levels from 7.6 g/dL at baseline to 8.8 g/dL by day 28 and 9.3 g/dL by day 60, while reducing blood transfusion requirements by over 50%. Patients with absolute iron deficiency and those under curative or palliative treatment showed greater hemoglobin improvement, though supportive care patients also benefited. Adverse reactions were rare and mild, supporting IV iron as a safe alternative to transfusion in this population. The study highlights the need for further research on symptom management, quality of life, and economic outcomes related to IV iron use in oncology supportive care.