Efficacy of Intravenous Iron Sucrose Infusion in Children with Iron Deficiency Anemia: Experience at Children Hospital & ICH Multan

Abstract

Objective: To describe the efficacy of intravenous iron sucrose in children with iron deficiency anemia who did not respondtotolerateoral iron therapy.

Study Design: Quasi experimental interventional study.

Patients and Methods: A prospective study was performed in 100 children, aged between 08 months and 15 years, 66% male and 33% female, diagnosed as iron deficiency anemia with predefined criteriaexcluding other causes.  The children who did not respond to /tolerate oral iron therapy were treated with injectable ironin a day care hematology center. Dose of iron sucrose was calculated by a formula. Total dose was divided in three equal aliquots, each one was diluted in 0.9% normal saline and infused over a period of 120 minutes onthree consecutive days. The efficacy of iron sucrose was analyzed by comparing baseline mean hemoglobin at initiation of therapy and mean hemoglobin level two weeks after iron infusion.

Results: Mean age was 4.18±3.68 years.At start of treatment,baseline meanHb was 6.09±1.37 g / dl, mean MCV 51.5±9.03fl and mean ferritin 7.76± 7.6232ng/ml . At day 14, mean Hb was 9.21±1.134 g / dl (P < 0.05) , mean MCV 66.5±7.19 fl and mean ferritin 52.47±29.6828ng/ml . Mean hemoglobin rise was 3.12±1.081gm/dl(P < 0.05). During infusion, only one patient had hypotensionwho was treated.

Conclusion: Iron sucrose infusion is a safe and effective way of raising hemoglobin in iron deficiency anemia in pediatric age group in special set up with minimal side effects.