Checking for anemia


Blood tests give your doctor a picture of how healthy your red blood cells (RBCs) are, and if you have enough iron.

Tests that show how your RBCs are doing:

  • Hemoglobin: This is the part of the red blood cell that contains iron and carries oxygen.
  • Hematocrit: Apercentage of RBCs within a sample of blood.

Tests that show where the iron is in your body and how it is being used:

  • Ferritin: This is a protein that reflects stored iron. Think of ferritin as gas in the tank. You need to have enough gas to keep a car running. This is why it is important to measure and track these values regularly. Remember, when you lose blood you lose iron and RBCs. Losing iron is like losing gas from your car.

  • Transferrin Saturation (TSAT): Transferrin is a protein that takes the iron from the storage protein (ferritin), or the iron that you're being treated with, and brings it to the bone marrow where it may be used to build healthy red blood cells. This lab value is a percentage. Think of it as the tube that brings the gas to the engine. It is the transportation vehicle for iron. A TSAT of <20% probably means that you do not have enough iron for your RBCs.
American Regent. Enriching the lives of anemia patients. ™

Important Safety Information
Venofer® (iron sucrose injection, USP) should not be taken if you have symptoms of too much iron in your blood, a known allergy to Venofer® or any of its inactive components, and if you have anemia not caused by iron deficiency. Serious hypersensitivity reactions (serious allergic reactions) have been reported in patients taking Venofer®, including serious and life threatening reactions (shock, loss of consciousness, collapse, convulsion, severe difficulty in breathing). Hypotension (low blood pressure) has been reported in patients who receive IV iron whether or not they are on dialysis. Hypotension (low blood pressure) following administration of Venofer® may be related to how fast and how much of the drug is given.

In studies in non-dialysis dependent-CKD patients, the most common side effects of Venofer were taste disturbance (7.7%), swelling of the arms and legs (7.7%), diarrhea (5.5%), constipation (5.5%), nausea (5.5%), dizziness (5.5%), and hypertension (5.5%). In an additional study of non-dialysis dependent-CKD patients treated with erythropoietin, the most common side effects of Venofer were diarrhea (16.5%), swelling of the arms and legs (16.5%), nausea (13.2%), vomiting (12.1%), joint pain (7.7%), back pain (7.7%), headache (7.7%), hypertension (7.7%), taste disturbance (7.7%), dizziness (6.6%), extremity pain (5.5%), and injection site burning (5.5%).

In studies in hemodialysis dependent-CKD patients, the most common side effects of Venofer were low blood pressure (39.4%), muscle cramps (29.4%), nausea (14.7%), headache (12.6%), graft complications (9.5%), vomiting (9.1%), dizziness (6.5%) hypertension (6.5%), chest pain (6.1%), and diarrhea (5.2%). In additional studies in hemodialysis dependent-CKD patients, the most common side effects were congestive heart failure, severe infections, and taste disturbance. In the study of peritoneal dialysis-dependent CKD patients most common side effects were diarrhea (8.0%), peritoneal infection (8.0%) vomiting (8.0%), hypertension (8.0%), sore throat (6.7%), swelling of the arms and legs (5.3%), and nausea (5.3%).


These are not all the possible side effects of Venofer®. For more information ask your healthcare professional or contact American Regent at 1-800-645-1706.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Please see Full Prescribing Information.