Clinical trial of a new intramuscular iron preparation in iron deficiency anaemia.

A new intramuscular iron preparation (Ferastral) permitting high doses of iron (500 mg) to be given in two simultaneous of 250 mg, was tested in 20 courses given to 11 patients with iron deficiency anaemia. The total iron doses given ranged from 1 000-2 500 mg. The amount injected was calculated from the degree of haemoglobin deficiency. Additional 500-1 000 mg iron were given to fill the depots. Haemoglobin regeneration was satisfactory. Bone marrow aspiration to assess storage iron 2-14 weeks after treatment was carried out in most patients and showed restoration of stainable iron in bone marrow in those cases given Ferastral in doses of 500-1 000 mg greater than calculated to normalize haemoglobin concentrations. In two patients with persistent continued blood loss the bone marrow remained negative for stainable iron. Side-effects were negligible.