Ferrous Sulfate Oral Solution in Young Children with Iron Deficiency Anemia.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the efficacy, safety and acceptability of a new ferrous sulfate oral solution (Tardyferon(R) 20 mg/mL) in young children with mild or moderate iron deficiency anemia (IDA). METHODS: This was a multicenter, national, single-arm, open-label study. Children aged 6-53 months presenting with mild or moderate IDA (blood hemoglobin [Hb]: 7.0-10.9 g/dL and serum ferritin < 12 ng/mL) were eligible for inclusion. The ferrous sulfate heptahydrate solution (2 mg/kg/day) was administered orally for 3 months. If normalization of either Hb or ferritin was not achieved at Month 3, the treatment was continued for another 3 months. RESULTS: Of the 100 children screened, 21 aged 6-17 months were included and received the study treatment, and 19 were analyzed for hematologic outcomes at Month 3. Only one patient continued treatment for the additional 3 months. At Month 3, mean +/- SD Hb and ferritin levels were 12.0 +/- 0.7 g/dL and 31.5 +/- 19.4 ng/mL, respectively. Hb and ferritin levels normalized in 95% (18/19) and 84% (16/19) of the patients, respectively. Treatment compliance and levels of satisfaction of both the parents and the investigators were high. Overall, 33.3% of patients (7/21) experienced at least one adverse event (AE). Only one patient (4.8%) experienced a drug-related AE (abdominal pain, upper). CONCLUSIONS: A 2 mg/kg daily dose of the new oral ferrous sulfate heptahydrate solution provides substantial therapeutic benefit with high levels of tolerability in young children with mild or moderate IDA.