Can ferric citrate lead to iron overload in peritoneal dialysis patients?

Ferric citrate (FC), a novel oral phosphate binder, is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of hyperphosphatemia in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients receiving dialysis. FC binds to dietary phosphate in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract producing ferric phosphate that is excreted in feces. However, a small quantity of iron is systemically absorbed. There are limited data regarding the safety of the maximum approved dose of FC among peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. We present a series of 3 PD patients who developed iron overload while receiving FC for management of hyperphosphatemia. These cases highlight the importance of close monitoring of iron studies and question whether a lower maximum dose of FC should be recommended in PD patients. Further studies are needed to assess the safety of the maximum approved dose of FC among PD patients.