Severe and prolonged hypophosphatemia after intravenous iron administration in a malnourished patient

Eur J Clin Nutr. 2014 Apr;68(4):531-3. doi: 10.1038/ejcn.2014.20. Epub 2014 Feb 26.

Abstract

Malnutrition may result in a phosphate-deficient state owing to a chronically insufficient phosphate intake. Concomitant iron deficiency is common and often supplemented by the intravenous route. It is not widely recognized that some parenteral iron formulations can induce hypophosphatemia. Herein we report a case of a severe and symptomatic hypophosphatemia (0.18 mM, normal range 0.8-1.4 mM) associated with an inappropriately reduced tubular reabsorption of phosphate (33%, norm >95%) in a malnourished patient with anorexia/bulimia who received 2 × 500 mg iron carboxymaltose (FCM) intravenously. Despite intravenous and oral phosphate supplements, it required 2 months to achieve a normal serum phosphate level. Our case demonstrates that in a chronically malnourished and phosphate-deficient state intravenous FCM could potentially be dangerous. If this form of iron application cannot be avoided, phosphate supplementation before and after iron infusion as well as close monitoring of phosphate levels are needed.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / complications
  • Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / drug therapy
  • Anorexia / complications
  • Anorexia / diagnosis
  • Anorexia / drug therapy
  • Bulimia / complications
  • Bulimia / diagnosis
  • Bulimia / drug therapy
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Female
  • Ferric Compounds / administration & dosage
  • Ferric Compounds / adverse effects*
  • Humans
  • Hypophosphatemia / chemically induced
  • Hypophosphatemia / pathology*
  • Injections, Intravenous
  • Malnutrition / diagnosis
  • Malnutrition / drug therapy*
  • Malnutrition / etiology
  • Maltose / administration & dosage
  • Maltose / adverse effects
  • Maltose / analogs & derivatives*
  • Parenteral Nutrition / adverse effects
  • Phosphates / administration & dosage
  • Weight Loss
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Ferric Compounds
  • Phosphates
  • ferric carboxymaltose
  • Maltose