Comparison of Intravenous with Oral Iron in Management of Iron Deficiency Anemia in Pregnancy

Abstract

Objective: To compare the therapeutic effect of intravenous and oral iron therapy in iron deficiency anemia of pregnancy.

Study Design: Quasi experimental comparative study.

Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted in department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Fauji Foundation Hospital Rawalpindi from I^st April 2007 to 31^stDecember 2007.

Patients and Methods: One hundred pregnant women of confirmed iron deficiency anemia with hemoglobin levels between 7-8 gm/dl and serum ferritin level < 12ug/l were recruited from antenatal clinic and obstetrical ward and divided in two equal groups and assigned either intravenous or oral iron therapy. Patients not willing for follow up or had anemia due to other causes such as megaloblastic or hemolytic anemia were excluded from study. Pregnancy with renal and liver disease and patients with known allergy to iron were also excluded. Treatment efficacy was assessed after three weeks by estimating the hemoglobin and serum ferritin levels.

Results: An increase in hemoglobin was observed rising from 8.82 ± 1.01 g/dl to 10.9 ± 1.20 g/dl in intravenous group while in oral iron therapy group rise in hemoglobin from 9.32 ± 0.63 to 10.32 ± 0.62 gm/dl was observed (p< 0.00).The serum ferritin levels rise from 8.34 ± 2.73 to 30.3±7.68 ug/l in intravenous iron therapy while it was from 8.34 ± 2.71 to 11.26 ± 2.88ug/l in oral group (p< 0.00).

Conclusion: Intravenous iron therapy is more effective than oral iron therapy in raising the hemoglobin and serum ferritin levels in pregnant patients with iron deficiency anemia.