Iron Sucrose in Stage 3/4 Kidney Disease

Eligible patients will be approached. Those who agree to partake in the study will, after enrolment (including informed consent), be randomized to one of 2 groups. Group A: To receive intravenous iron sucrose to maintain supra-physiological measures of iron status ) Group A will be targeted to have ferritin levels between 300 and 500µg/L and/or a transferrin saturation of between 25 and 50%. Between 100 and 200mg of intravenous iron sucrose will be administered by slow bolus injection one- to two-monthly to achieve these levels. Oral iron will not be used routinely in this group. Group B: Will have oral iron therapy if required to maintain ferritin levels between 100 and 150µg/L and/or transferrin saturations \>20% but \<25%. Patients in Group B who are unable to tolerate oral iron will be administered iron sucrose if necessary to maintain acceptable iron levels. Patients in Group B will therefore differ from those in Group A (a) through the routine use of iron sucrose and (b) through the maintenance of different ferritin and transferrin saturation levels.