Iron therapy for heart failure

Iron deficiency regularly occurs in heart failure patients, but the symptoms tend to be vague and non-specific. Since iron deficiency is associated with lower quality of life, reduced exercise capacity and more frequent hospital admissions, we screen systematically for iron deficiency. Through iron therapy, we hope to positively impact your exercise capacity and quality of life.

No specific preparation is required.

If you are ill on the day of your scheduled therapy, contact the heart failure nurse to postpone the appointment.

Upon arrival at the hospital, use your electronic ID card to check in at one of the kiosks. After receiving your number, report to the check-in desk. There, you will be given a wristband and patient labels. Next, check in at the day hospital of the Heart Centre. Take gate E and follow the signs for ‘G1 Cardiology Day Hospital’. The heart failure nurse will be there to greet you and give you a detailed explanation of the procedure for the therapy. We will only start once you have given your consent.

To allow for the therapeutic effect to be monitored, both your quality of life and exercise capacity are measured before treatment is initiated. This is done by means of a questionnaire and a walking test. The iron deficiency is supplemented by infusion. This iron infusion takes 30 minutes. While it is being administered, your blood pressure and pulse rate will be checked regularly.
If you experience any discomfort, let the nurse know straight away.

Allergic reactions occur in rare cases. In that case, the infusion is stopped immediately and you will receive medication to treat the allergic reaction straight away.

The results of the treatment are monitored in different ways: through the laboratory results, which show the iron levels in the blood, and through quality of life and exercise capacity measurements before and after the treatment. You can discuss the results with your cardiologist during your check-up appointment.

After it is administered, you are asked to stay for 30 minutes to check for any possible side effects. After that, you are free to go home.
If required, an appointment will be scheduled for you for a second infusion after one week. A check-up appointment will be scheduled for you with your attending cardiologist for six weeks after the infusion(s). Your iron levels and anaemia will be checked again. If severe iron deficiency persists, your physician will schedule an additional infusion. We will continue to check your iron levels and anaemia status every six months. The questionnaire and walking test will be repeated too.

See the leaflet below for more information.

Latest publication date: 15/01/2024
Supervising author: Dr Provenier Frank