Oral versus intravenous iron therapy for correction of iron deficiency anaemia in pregnancy

Abstract

Background: The high prevalence of anaemia in pregnancy has serious adverse consequences in both mother and baby. Management of anaemia in pregnancy should be given great importance in obstetric practice.The study was undertaken to compare the efficacy of oral iron (ferrous sulphate) and intravenous iron sucrose complex in the management of moderate anaemia in pregnancy. Method: A randomized comparative hospital–based longitudinal analysis was conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of a tertiary care hospital, involving 70 women with haemoglobin between 7- 9.9 g/dl and serum ferritin < 50 mcg/l, attending antenatal clinic. Intravenous iron sucrose complex was given in one group and tablet ferrous sulfate (100 mg elemental iron) to the oral group. Treatment efficacy was assessed by measurement of haemoglobin and reticulocytes on days 8, 15, 21 and 30 and ferritin on day 30. Result: An increase in haemoglobin was observed in both groups, rising from 8.26 ±0.764g/dl to 11.08± 0.71g/dl in the intravenous group and from 8.14±0.767 g/dl to 10.98 ±0.61 g/dl on day 30 in the oral group. S.ferritin on day 30 was significantly higher in the intravenous group. The side effects in both groups were negligible though there were there were 3 dropouts due to adverse effects. Conclusion : Both oral ferrous sulphate and intravenous iron sucrose complex are safe, convenient and effective in treatment of iron deficiency anaemia in pregnant women with negligible side effects, but intravenous iron sucrose complex is better in improving serum iron and in restoring maternal iron stores