Effects of Intravenous Versus Oral Iron Replacement on Inflammatory Markers and Serum Uric Acid in Premenopausal Women with Iron Deficiency: A Prospective Study

Background/Objectives: Iron deficiency may be associated with alterations in systemic inflammatory activity and metabolic parameters. However, whether oral and intravenous (IV) iron replacement have different effects on inflammatory markers and serum uric acid remains unclear. We compared inflammatory and metabolic responses to oral and IV iron in premenopausal women with iron deficiency.

Methods

This prospective observational study included 72 oral iron recipients, 77 IV iron recipients, and 76 healthy controls. Patients were reassessed at Day 30. The primary outcome was change in C-reactive protein (CRP); changes in erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and uric acid were secondary outcomes. Additional regressions used robust standard errors, adjusting for age, baseline hemoglobin, and baseline outcome values; the uric acid model additionally included baseline creatinine.