Parenteral iron therapy in children with iron deficiency anemia

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) continues to be a global public health problem. Oral iron is the universally accepted first-line therapy, and most children have a prompt and favorable response to oral formulations. In subsets of children who fail to respond due to intolerance, poor adherence, or inadequate intestinal absorption, parenteral iron is indicated. Despite numerous studies in adults with IDA of diverse etiologies, pediatric studies on parenteral iron use are very limited. Although mostly retrospective and small, these studies have documented the efficacy and safety profile of intravenous iron formulations. In this editorial the author comments on the most important published data and underscores the need to seriously consider parenteral iron use in children unresponsive to oral therapy.