Oral Versus Intravenous Iron for Treatment of Iron Deficiency Anaemia in Pregnancy: A Randomized Controlled Trial Dalal Monika1,*, Goyal Ritu2, Nanda Smiti3, Dahiya Pushpa3, Dahiya Krishna4, Madan Shikha5 Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital, New Delhi 1Assistant Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Pt. B.D. Sharma Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Rohtak, Haryana 2Senior Specialist, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Pt. B.D. Sharma Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Rohtak, Haryana 3Senior Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Pt. B.D. Sharma Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Rohtak, Haryana 4Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Pt. B.D. Sharma Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Rohtak, Haryana 5Assistant Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Pt. B.D. Sharma Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Rohtak, Haryana *Address for Correspondence: Dr. Monika Dalal Assistant Professor, Pt. B.D. Sharma Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Rohtak, Haryana and Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital, New Delhi, Phone no. +919050097095, E-mail: drmonikadalal@gmail.com
Online published on 19 June, 2018. Abstract Introduction Oral iron supplementation is standard of care in obstetrical practice in pregnancy. But oral iron is frequently restricted by limited absorption, low tolerability, non-compliance and side effects. Intravenous iron could be a good alternative with sure compliance. Aim To evaluate the efficacy and adverse effects of intravenous iron sucrose and compare it with oral ferrous sulphate therapy in the treatment of iron deficiency anaemia of pregnancy. Method and Material A randomised, open labelled, controlled trial was performed in a tertiary care hospital. 150 Women at 26 to 34 weeks of gestation with haemoglobin between 7–11 g/dl who met the inclusion criteria were randomised into oral iron group I and intravenous iron sucrose group II. Patients were followed till delivery. Haemoglobin levels, reticulocyte count, serum ferritin levels were analysed to compare efficacy and safety. Results Rise in haemoglobin level was more in group II as compared to group I in total and in terms of period of gestation and gravidity. The rise in reticulocyte count was higher in group I at the end of 1 week. The rise in ferritin was very highly significant in subjects of both groups recruited at any period of gestation at 4 weeks after therapy (p<0.001). Conclusion Intravenous Iron sucrose is a safe and an effective alternative to oral iron. Iron sucrose restores iron stores faster and more effectively than oral iron in terms of rise in haemoglobin, reticulocyte count, serum ferritin levels and without any serious side effects. Top Keywords Oral iron, Intravenous iron sucrose, iron deficiency anaemia, Pregnancy. Top |