Iron in kidney and heart failure: from theory to practice

There is evidence that serum iron levels, regardless of the presence of anemia, directly impact outcomes in congestive heart failure (CHF) including quality of life, hospitalization rate and overall survival. Despite modern medical treatments, the prognosis of CHF remains grim. Ironically, simple iron replenishment may serve as a powerful tool in the armamentarium. This review will start from fundamental concepts of iron in oxygen delivery and analyze evidence-based outcomes in CHF iron-directed therapeutic trials. Imaging rationale that dovetails with this pathophysiology will also be detailed in a clinician-directed fashion.