Some characteristics of the different intravenous iron formulations
| Iron gluconate | Iron sucrose | High molecular weight iron dextran | Low molecular weight iron dextran | Ferric carboxymaltose | Iron isomaltoside 1000 | Ferumoxytol | |
| Brand name | Ferrlecit | Venofer | Dexferrum |
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| Monofer | FeraHeme |
| Carbohydrate shell | Gluconate (monosaccharide) | Sucrose (disaccharide) | Dextran (branched polysaccharide) | Dextran (branched polysaccharide) | Carboxymaltose (branched polysaccharide) | Isomaltoside (linear oligosaccharide) | Polyglucose sorbitol carboxymethylether |
| Complex type |
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| Molecular weight (kDa) | 289–440 | 30–60 | 265 | 165 | 150 | 150 | 750 |
| Initial distribution volume (l) | 6 | 3.4 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 3.16 |
| Plasma half-life (h) | 1 | 6 | 60 | 20 | 16 | 20 | 15 |
| Labile iron release | +++ | ± | – | – | – | – | – |
| Direct iron donation to transferrin (% injected dose) | 5–6 | 4–5 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–2 | <1 | <1 |
| Test dose required | No | Yes/no* | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Iron content (mg/ml) | 12.5 | 20 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 100 | 30 |
| Maximal single dose (mg) | 125 | 200 | 20 mg/kg | 20 mg/kg | 15 mg/kg (max 1000 mg in one infusion) | 20 mg/kg | 510 |
| Pre-medication | No | No | TDI only | No | No | No | No |
| Life-threatening ADE (×106 doses) | 0.9 | 0.6 | 11.3 | 3.3 | ? | ? | ? |
ADE, adverse drug event; TDI, total dose infusion.
↵* A test dose is only required in Europe.