Comparison of parenteral iron sucrose and low molecular weight iron dextran in treatment of iron deficiency anaemia of pregnancy at Military Hospital Rawalpindi

ABSTRACT

To evaluate the effect of two forms of iron therapy for treatment of moderate to severe iron deficiency anaemia. Quasi experimental comparative study. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Military Hospital, Army Medical College, Rawalpindi. July2004 to June 2005. All pregnant women with confirmed iron deficiency anaemia [IDA] at 26-36 weeks gestation were included in the study. Hemoglobin level [Hb] was between 6 and 10 gm/dl. Patients with history of blood loss, allergy to parenteral iron, hemoglobinopathy, parasitic infections and haematuria were excluded. After detailed history and examination baseline hematological parameters like Hb, MCV, MCHC and serum ferritin were assessed. After informed consent patients were divided into two groups [A and B] for Iron Sucrose complex or Low Molecular Weight [LMW] iron dextran therapy respectively constituting 50 patients in each group. Intravenous infusion [after test dose] was administered by calculating the dose by the standard formula. Post treatment hemoglobin and serum ferritin was checked after one month of therapy and results tabulated. In Group A pretreatment Hb was 8.02 +/- 1.08g/dl which improved to 10.95 +/- 0.41g/dl at the end of treatment whereas serum ferritin level increased from 8.84 +/- 0.86 to 12.41 +/- 0.396ug/l while in Group B pretreatment hemoglobin was 8.13 +/- 1.9g/dl which improved to 11.14 +/- 0. 428g/dl whereas serum ferritin level increased from 8.67 +/- 0.77ug/l to 12.24 +/- 1.78ug/l. Lesser side effects were noted in Group B patients. Both parenteral iron therapies are highly and rapidly effective and have equal compliance but LMW Iron dextran is more effective, due to lesser side effects and good compliance