Oral Iron Therapy in Chronic Heart Failure Patients

Inclusion criteria * Both gender patients aged over 18 years; * Diagnosis of chronic heart failure (identified by the use of Framingham criteria) for ≥ 6 months; * New York Heart Association functional class II and III; * Left ventricular ejection fraction ≤ 45% * Regular attendance in an outpatient Heart Failure Clinic; * Adequate therapeutic drug for heart failure syndrome based on beta-adrenergic blocker, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker, and mineralocorticoid receptor blocker; * Evidence of iron deficiency in biochemical analyses: ferritin values \< 100 ng/dL or between 100 ng/dL and 300 ng/dL, with transferrin saturation \< 20%; * Hemoglobin value between 9,0 - 16 g/dL; * Provide written informed consent. Exclusion criteria * Recent device implant (in the last 3 months) or perspective of device implantation (conventional or multisite pacing) in the next 6 months; * Known active infection, inflammatory disease or C-reactive protein \> 20 mg/dL * Immunosuppressive therapy; * In use of erythropoietin and/or current treatment with oral or intravenous iron; * Clinically bleeding or blood transfusion in previous 3 months; * Renal failure on dialysis; * Hemoglobinopathies, hemochromatosis or active malignancy; * Unstable angina pectoris or clinically significant uncorrected valvular disease, except mitral and tricuspid regurgitation secondary to ventricular dilatation; * Acute myocardial infarction or acute coronary syndrome, transient ischaemic attack within the last 3 months; * Uncontrolled arterial hypertension; * Evidence of comorbidity that features active systemic disease, i.e. liver disease, collagen disease and untreated hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism; * Pregnant or lactating women; * Anaemia due to reasons other than iron deficiency (i.e. vitamin B12 deficiency); * Recent admission for decompensated heart failure (last 3 months).