The challenges of using serum ferritin to guide i.v. iron treatment practices in patients on hemodialysis with anemia.

Nephrol Nurs J. 2006 Sep-Oct; 33(5):543-51; quiz 552-3.NN

Expert guidelines recommend routine administration of intravenous iron therapy and frequent monitoring of iron status for patients on hemodialysis who are being treated for anemia with erythropoiesis-stimulating agents. However, monitoring iron status using conventional markers, such as serum ferritin, may be complicated by acute and chronic inflammation and malnutrition, which are common in this patient population. Therefore, nephrology nurses must be knowledgeable of the limitations of using serum ferritin to assess iron status and how to interpret high serum ferritin values to effectively treat patients on hemodialysis with anemia.