Irsuc Mechanism of Action

Hematinic.
Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics: Following intravenous administration of Iron (as Ferric Hydroxide Sucrose Complex) is dissociated by the endothelial system into iron and sucrose. In 22 hemodialysis patients on erythropoietin (recombinant human erythropoietin) therapy treated with iron sucrose containing 100 mg iron, three times weekly for three weeks, significant increases in serum iron and serum ferritin and significant decreases in total iron binding capacity occurred four weeks from the initiation of iron sucrose treatment.
Pharmacokinetics: Following intravenous injection of a single dose of iron sucrose injection USP containing 100 mg iron in healthy volunteers, maximum iron levels, averaging 538 Mmol/L, were obtained 10 minutes after injection. The volume of distribution of central compartment corresponded well to the volume of plasma (approximately 3 litres).
The iron injected was rapidly cleared from the plasma, the terminal half-life being approx. 6h. The volume of distribution at steady state was about 8 litres, indicating a low iron distribution in the body fluid. Due to the lower stability of iron sucrose in comparison to transferrin, a competitive exchange of iron to transferrin was observed. This result in iron transport of approx. 31 mg iron/24h.
Renal elimination of iron, occurring in the first 4h after injection, corresponds to less than 5% of the total body clearance. After 24h the plasma levels of iron were reduced to the pre-dose iron level and about 75% of the dosage of sucrose was excreted.
Distribution: Following intravenous administration of iron sucrose, the iron component appears to distribute mainly in blood and to some extent in extravascular fluid. Significant amount of administered iron is distributed in the liver, spleen and bone marrow.
Metabolism and Elimination: Following intravenous administration, iron sucrose dissociated into iron and sucrose by the reticuloendothelial system. The sucrose component is eliminated mainly by urinary excretion.