Anaemia in pregnancy: prevalence and treatment response to various modalities: a prospective study

Background: Anaemia seen in pregnancy are largely preventable and easily treatable if detected in time, despite this, anaemia still continues to be a common cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality in India.Methods: A prospective observational study of 200 pregnant women with anaemia was carried out from Jun 2017 to December 2018 at a Tertiary care hospital with pan India population. Patients underwent clinical examination and laboratory tests to find out the severity and type of anaemia and were treated accordingly. Iron deficiency anaemia was treated with oral or intravenous iron therapy depending upon the hemoglobin concentration. Patients were followed up after 28 days of treatment and hemoglobin estimation was done to monitor the treatment response.Results: A total 36.49% pregnant women had hemoglobin less than 10 gm%. 151 out of 200 women had serum ferritin <12 ng/ml which indicates that iron deficiency anaemia is the commonest type of anaemia in pregnancy. Overall, out of 200 patients 5.5% patients were found to have hemoglobinopathies (β thalassemia trait). After 28 days of treatment mean increase in hemoglobin was 2.40 gm% and 4.24 gm% in patients receiving oral and intravenous iron therapy respectively.Conclusions: A total 36.49% pregnant women were found to have anaemia during pregnancy and iron deficiency anaemia is the commonest type of anaemia. Therefore, there is still a need for dietary counselling and health education in the community. 5.5% patients were found to have beta thalassemia trait which was detected only after conducting hemoglobin electrophoresis. Both oral and intravenous iron therapy are effective in treatment of iron deficiency anaemia but intravenous iron therapy results in a more rapid resolution of anaemia.

Outcomes of patients with left ventricular ejection fraction preserved heart failure and iron deficiency treated with intravenous iron / 实用医学杂志

Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the benefits of i.v. iron therapy in iron-defi-cient patients with left ventricular ejection fraction preserved heart failure (HFpEF). Methods 61 HFpEF pa-tients with iron deficiency were randomized to treatment with or without i.v. iron,as ferric carboxymaltose(FCM, n = 31)or placebo(saline,n = 29)for 24 weeks of a double-blind,placebo-controlled trial. The primary end-point was the change in 6-min-walk-test(6MWT)distance from baseline to Week 24. Secondary end-points includ-ed changes in New York Heart Association(NYHA)class,health-related quality of life(QoL),with NT-proBNP under observation. Results Compared with the control group at week 16 and 24,the iron treatment group has much more improve in 6MWT and the health-related quality of life(HRQoL)(P0.05). Conclusion In this study,Treatment with intravenous ferric carboxymaltose can improve symptoms, functional capacity,and quality of life.

Comparison of efficacy of GnRH agonist and intravenous iron therapy for preoperative correction of anemia in gynecologic patients / 대한산부인과학회지

OBJECTIVE: This study is aimed to compare the efficacy of GnRH agonist and intravenous iron therapy in women who need correction of anemia prior to hysterectomy for uterine myoma and adenomyosis. METHODS: We reviewed retrospectively the data of 105 patients with initial hemoglobin level under 10g/dl, who had undergone total abdominal hysterectomy after correction of anemia with GnRH agonist (Group 1) or intravenous iron therapy (Group 2) from January 2004 to April 2006. RESULTS: Initial hemogloblin level was not different between the two groups. After administration, hemoglobin level increased by 3.9+/-2.3 g/dl and 2.6+/-1.7 g/dl, respectively. Therefore, group 1 was superior in anemia correction (p<0.01). On postoperative 1st day, hemoglobin level was 10.3+/-1.6 g/dl and 9.0+/-1.0 g/dl. Correction duration was 7.8+/-4.7weeks (1-18weeks) in group 1 and 4.0+/-4.8weeks (1-30 weeks) in group 2. Shorter duration was needed for correction in group 2 (p<0.01). Surgically removed uterine weight was 391.4+/-195.1 gm and 630.6+/-648.9 gm, respectively. Uterine weight was heavier in Group 2 (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: In comparison of efficacy of GnRH agonist with intravenous iron therapy for the correction of preoperative anemia, corrected hemoglobin level was higher and removed uterine weight was smaller in group 1. But duration of therapy for the correction of anemia was shorter and cost-effectiveness was superior in group 2. Clinicians should consider the patients' condition prior to the selection of drug for preoperative anemia correction.

Intravenous Iron in the Treatment of Postoperative Anemia Following Obstetric and Gynecologic Surgery / 대한산부인과학회지

OBJECTIVE: This study is aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of intravenous iron therapy (iron III hydroxide sucrose complex) in ptatients with postoperative anemia following obstetric and gynecologic operations. METHODS: We reviewed the data of 69 patients with postoperative anemia who had undergone obstetric and gynecologic surgery from September 2003 to September 2004, who refused transfusion for correction of post-operative anemia and agreed on treatment with intravenous iron therapy. Iron III hydroxide sucrose complex 200 mg diluted in 100 mL of 0.9% sodium chloride was administrated over 2 hours on postoperative day 1st, 3rd and 5th days. Hemoglobin levels checked and side effects were reviewed. RESULTS: After treatment of intravenous iron therapy, the hemoglobin levels increased rapidly. The lowest hemoglobin levels were observed on postoperative 3rd day but rapid increase of homoglobin levels were observed continously. After 2 weeks from operation, the hemoglobin levels have increased by 0.6+/-1.3 g/dL in the patients with cesarean section and 2.1+/-1.2 g/dL in the patients with gynecology operation. Major side effects such as anaphylaxis and allergic reaction were not observed, and minor side effects were observed in three patients (4%). Emesis, pain on the injection site and skin rash was observed in each patients. CONCLUSION: Intravenous iron sucrose therapy was safe and effective in anemia following obstetric and gynecologic surgery.

Usefulness of Intravenous Iron Supplement During Recombinant Human Erythropoietin(rHuEPO) Therapy in Hemodialysis(HD) Patients / 대한신장학회잡지

Compared with iron dextran, iron chondroitin sulfate(ICS) is much cheaper and has better bioavailability. To evaluate the efficacy and safety of ICS in maintenance HD patients, i.v. ICS was given to 37 HD patients [20 M, 17 F, median age 51 years, median duration of HD 21 months] whose ferritin(Fer)or=100microgram/L and TFS>or=20% [Group II, 8 M, 7 F]. The patients had taken oral iron [227+/-73mg/day(mean+/-SD)] before this study. All patients received 120mg i.v. ICS weekly for 1 month. Then, ICS dosage was adjusted to 40-120mg/week depending on Hb, Fer and TFS in the following 3 months. Hb, Fer, TFS, rHuEPO dose and side effects were monitored monthly. The results were as follows : 1) I.v. iron therapy produced a significant rise in Hb(8.3+/-0.9g/dL to 9.7+/-0.9g/dL; P<0.01), a significant reduction in rHuEPO dose(95+/-50U/kg/wk to 69+/-28U/kg/wk; P<0.05), a significant increase in serum ferritin levels(162+/-149microgram/L to 472+/-255microgram/L; P<0.01) and TFS(24+/-13% to 41+/-18%; P<0.05). 2) In group 1, i.v. iron therapy produced a significant rise in Hb(8.5+/-1.1g/dL to 9.9+/-0.9g/dL; P< 0.01), a significant reduction in rHuEPO dose(87+/-45U/kg/wk to 69+/-27U/kg/wk; P<0.05), increased serum ferritin levels(90+/-48microgram/L to 379+/-186microgram/L; P<0.01) and TFS(18+/-9% to 36+/-16%; P<0.05). 3) In group 2, i.v. iron therapy produced a significant rise in Hb(8.1+/-0.6g/dL to 9.3+/-0.9g/dL; P<0.01), a significant reduction in rHuEPO dose(108+/-55U/kg/ wk to 69+/-31U/kg/wk; P<0.05) and increased serum ferritin levels(274+/-185microgram/L to 602+/-287microgram/L; P< 0.01) with a tendency of increase in TFS(35+/-13% to 41+/-18%; P=0.06). 4) No significant side effect was observed. 5) An annual cost reduction of 221 US dollars per patient was expected. In conclusion, ICS is an effective and safe intravenous iron preparation in HD patients.