Time course of Hb level and sEpo in five patients with iron deficiency anemia treated with IV iron saccharate from day 0. Data are mean values ± SEM. Within 48 hours, sEpo fell from 1,049 ± 772 mU/mL to 485 ± 567 mU/mL (P < .01), whereas Hb level did not change significantly (6.4 ± 1.4 v 6.4 ± 1.2, P> .057).