This study compared Sheng Xue Ning (SXN) tablets with ferrous succinate (FS) tablets in terms of their efficacy for the treatment of iron-deficient renal anemia and safety in patients subject to maintenance hemodialysis (MHD). A total of 94 patients undergoing MHD were randomly assigned to an experiment group (receiving oral SXN tablets, SXN group) and a control group (orally given FS tablets, FS group) and followed up for 12 weeks. Erythropoietin (EPO) was used in both groups. The efficacy was assessed by detecting the subsequent changes in hemoglobin (Hb), serum iron (SI), SF and transferrin saturation (TSAT). At the 12th week, Hb and TSAT levels in both groups were significantly increased compared to those in the screening period (P<0.05). However, no significant difference in Hb and TSAT was found between the two groups. The average weekly EPO dosage used was lower in SXN group than in FS group (P<0.05) at the 10th week and the 12th week. Our study showed that SXN tablets can effectively ameliorate renal anemia and keep iron metabolism stable in MHD patients, and its efficacy is virtually close to that of FS tablets. Meanwhile, SXN tablets can reduce the dosage of EPO and have a good safety profile.
Keywords: hemodialysis; oral iron supplements; renal anemia.