New trials announced for heart failure and iron deficiency

  Ferric carboxymaltose (Ferinject) may have a positive impact on morbidity and mortality in patients with systolic heart failure as three trials have been initiated to evaluate its efficacy on morbidity and mortality outcomes in patients with systolic heart failure and iron deficiency. The three double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials, entitled AFFIRM-AHF, FAIR-HF2 and HEART-FID, will study the effects of ferric carboxymaltose versus placebo on morbidity and mortality outcomes. These trials follow the FAIR-HF, CONFIRM-HF and EFFECT-HF trials, which showed statistically significantly beneficial effects of ferric carboxymaltose versus placebo or standard of care, on symptoms, functional capacity and oxygen consumption, respectively. Consideration of ferric carboxymaltose is now recommended in the