Background Intravenous iron therapy has been recommended by NKF-DOQI in correction of iron deficiency, defined by transferrin saturation (TSAT) less than 20%, commonly observed in Erythropoietin-treated hemodialysis patient. After a loading dose of 1,000 mg, iron at the dose of 25-100 m g/w eek I S given to maintain adequate iron status. There are no available data regarding how to appropriately prescribe the intravenous iron in maintenance period in individual patient. Objective To determine the appropriate intravenous iron maintenance dosage in individual treated-treated hemodialysis patients. Methods The studies were performed in 9 stable hemodialysis patients who have TSAT values less than 20%. Each patient was treated with a loading dose of 1,000 mg intravenous iron. The TSAT concentrations were periodically followed up until the values were lower than 20%. The patients were retreated with the 1,000 mg iron loading dose and, then, with a 100 mg iron maintenance dose at an interval of one-tenth of the duration between both loading doses. The TSAT concentrations were determined monthly for three consecutive months Result After the first iron loading dose, the TSAT concentrations w ere increased from 16.41 ± 0.54 (mean ± SE) % at the baseline to 29.34 ± 2.58 %. Following an averaged duration of 155.5 ± 29.3 days, the values of TSAT were reduced to 16.24 ± 0.48 %. The second iron-loading dose could increase TSAT level to 33.69 ± 3.87 %. The maintenance dose, given at a mean interval of 15.55 ± 2.9 days, could maintain the TSAT concentrations of 38.48 ± 5.40, 37.10 ± 0.15, 34.19 ± 3.59, 34.12 ± 6.60 % at 4, 8, 12, 16 weeks respectively (p >0.70), after start the maintenance iron. Conclusion Determination of the individually appropriate intravenous iron maintenance dosage is beneficial in Erythropoietin-treated hemodialysis patients. The interval time of the 100 mg iron maintenance dose in Thai hemodialysis patients w ere appropriately 2 weeks.
