INTRAVENOUS IRON SUCROSE COMPLEX IN THE TREATMENT OF IRON-DEFICIENCY ANEMIA DURING PREGNANCY

Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of intravenous iron suc rose complex (ISC) as compared with oral ferrous sulfate in the treatm ent of iron deficiency anemia during pregnancy. Study design: prospect ive, open, controlled study in which pregnant women with iron deficien cy anemia were sequentially selected from the antenatal clinic and ass igned either to ISC (study group) or to ferrous sulfate (control group ), Methods: Each study patient was given the total calculated amount o f ICS (Hb deficit (g/l) x body weight (kg)x 0.3) in divided doses (200 mg (elemental iron) in 100 mi normal saline intravenously over 1 h da ily) followed by 10 mg/kg to replenish iron stores. Each patient of th e control group was given ferrous sulfate 300 mg (60 mg elemental iron ) orally three times a day. AU patients were monitored for adverse eff ects, clinical and laboratory response. Results: There were 52 patient s and 59 controls. ISC group achieved a significantly higher Hb level (128.5 +/- 6.6 g/l vs. 111.4 +/- 12.4 g/l in the control group P less than or equal to 0.001) in a shorter period (6.9 +/- 1.8 weeks vs. 14. 9 +/- 3.1 weeks in the control group, P less than or equal to 0.001). ISC complex group showed no major side effects while 4 (6%) of the con trol group could not tolerate ferrous sulfate, 18 (30%) complained of disturbing gastrointestinal symptoms and 18 (30%) had poor compliance. Conclusion: We conclude that ISC is safe and effective in the treatme nt of iron deficiency anemia during pregnancy.