Parenteral iron sucrose therapy along with blood transfusion in moderate to severe anaemia in pregnancy

Abstract

Background: Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is more prevalent in South Asian countries which accounts for more than half of the maternal death. India is the leader in maternal death due to IDA. Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) is the most common nutritional deficiency in pregnancy. Prophylactic oral iron is recommended during pregnancy to meet the increased requirement. In India, women become pregnant with low baseline haemoglobin levels resulting in high incidence of moderate to severe anaemia in pregnancy, where oral iron therapy cannot meet the requirement. Pregnant women with anaemia are to be treated with parenteral iron therapy. Iron-deficiency anaemia during pregnancy and postpartum occurs frequently and may lead to severe maternal and foetal complications. New treatment regimens include intravenous iron administration in particular clinical situations. The aim of the study was to assess the diagnosis and treatment of iron-deficiency anaemia in pregnancy and postpartum.Aims and Objectives: To study improvement in haematological parameters after parenteral Iron sucrose therapy with or without blood transfusion in pregnant women with moderate to severe iron deficiency anaemia.Materials and methods: Thirty patients with iron deficiency anemia who were admitted having hemoglobin <10gm% were studied. Study cohort received 300 to 600 mg of iron sucrose by intravenous route with or without blood transfusion. Hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume and haemoglobin were recorded before and after therapy at the end of one week.Methods/Design: This is a prospective study performed on pregnant women with moderate to severe anaemia. A sample size of 30 patients was selected for the present study. The study subjects were divided into two groups: Group A: (11) patients who were treated with iron sucrose + blood transfusion and Group B: (19) patients who were treated with iron sucrose only.Conclusion: The study reported Hb level recorded at 1 week was 9.29 ± 0.68 g/dl in group A and 10.1 ± 0.83 g/dl in group B. Significant improvement in Hb levels of patients in group A was observed as the study reported that at baseline the Hb concentration of all patients was ≤9 g/dL however, after 6 weeks there were only 27.3% with Hb concentration less than ≤9 g/dL. The study concluded that the iron sucrose and blood transfusion (group A) is a better indicator for raising the Hb levels of pregnant women.