It is certainly of great value to have an overview about different iron regimens in combination with rHuEPO. However, at least in Europe, there is common agreement that parenteral iron and, if used as such, iron sucrose is the gold standard in combination with rHuEPO as regards safety and effectiveness. Monitoring of efficiency is based on monitoring of hypochromic red cell, yet the question stands, How is monitoring performed if analyzers of hypochromic red cells are too expensive? In addition, many countries can not afford parenteral iron in high quantities. These problems remain to be solved.

– C. Breymann.