Problem of iron-deficiency anemia in patients with cancers: practice in using iron-containing drugs

Abstract

The continuing relevance of anemia in cancer patients is confirmed by the results of recent trials. Decreased hemoglobin levels are shown to lead to not only poorer quality of life, but also to lower survival rates in cancer patients. Today there is evidence that iron deficiency is the most common cause of anemia. This paper considers the mechanisms of iron metabolic disturbances, the diagnosis and treatment of iron deficiency. It gives the results of many clinical trials comparing the efficacy of different iron preparations.

Keywords

• cancer
• anemia
• iron deficiency
• erythropoietins
• ferric carboxymaltose
• ferritin
• transferrin