Could you imagine Dialysis without having to worry about fatigue and other common side effects associated with Anemia? Well that time may already be upon the Chronic Kidney Disease Community. Triferic is the first iron maintenance drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to replace iron and maintain Hemoglobin (a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen) in Chronic Kidney Disease patients who conduct Dialysis.
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This is great news for the Chronic Kidney Disease Community, specifically those on Dialysis! "It's probably the biggest thing to hit Dialysis in 25 years," said Robert Chioini, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the small pharmaceutical company, Rockwell Medical Technologies Inc.
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Iron-Deficiency Anemia is a persistent problem in the over 500,000 Chronic Kidney Disease patients who conduct Dialysis because while a patient's blood is filtered to eliminate waste, toxins, and extra fluids; the process also removes approximately "5 milligrams to 7 milligrams" of necessary iron during every treatment (3 to 7 days a week) - according to Detroit News. This causes Anemia which leads to fatigue, weakness, decreased physical and mental function, and even Heart Failure.
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However, over the past couple of years the primary iron replacement method for Dialysis patients (IV Iron Infusion) has come under scrutiny due to side effects that include: Iron overload in the body which may be toxic for the liver, cause inflammation and increased risks of infection, Anaphylactic Shock (a severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction) and death. Triferic, on the other hand, boasts a safer and more effective treatment option for Chronic Kidney Disease patients on Dialysis to combat Anemia.
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That is why Lead Researchers, Dr. Steven Fishbane (Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine), and Professor Ajay Singh (Harvard Medical School) think that the discovery of Triferic and the FDA approval is, "a very important advance for the treatment of patients on Dialysis." Chronic Kidney Disease and Dialysis patients may now rest easier during treatments as this newly approved therapy offers, "no chance of overloading the liver with iron, because the delivery method bypasses that vital organ," suggested researchers.
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Tested in over 100,000 patients, Triferic, is more convenient because its simply added to the Dialysis solution patients already use during every Treatment which eliminates the need for a separate Intravenous Line. The idea is to have Triferic routinely used with every Dialysis Treatment to replace iron and maintain Hemoglobin Levels in order to prevent Iron-Deficiency Anemia in Chronic Kidney Disease patients.
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"Our expectation," Chioini said, "is that patients in the U.S. today will all use this, and this will become the standard of care." Now what do YOU think? Would you consider discussing the use of Triferic during your Dialysis Treatments with your Nephrologists or do you prefer the current IV Iron Infusion method? Share your thoughts with the over 17,200 other Facebook Fan Page Friends by clicking here. Also, visit KidneyBuzz.com every day for the latest Breaking News and Information about how those with Chronic Kidney Disease, Dialysis and/or Diabetes can better manage and improve their lives.
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References:
"Kidney Treatment Breakthrough Boosts Wixom Firm."Http://www.detroitnews.com. Detroit News.
"Low Hemoglobin Count." Http://www.mayoclinic.org. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.