Intravenous Iron Sucrose Therapy in Iron Deficiency Anemia in Antenatal and Postnatal Patients.

Introduction: Iron deficiency anemia is the most common nutritional deficiency in pregnancy and more common in developing countries which is aggravated due to increased demand and blood loss during delivery. Though there are different methods for treating iron deficiency anemia. Iron sucrose is being used because of its minimal side effects. This study was undertaken to evaluate the response and effect of intravenous iron sucrose given to patient in antenatal and postnatal period with moderate iron deficiency anemia. Methods: A hospital based prospective study was conducted 1st Jan 2013-30th Dec 2014 in the department of obstetrics and gynecology Kathmandu Medical College, Teaching Hospital Kathmandu, Nepal. Antenatal and postnatal patients with hemoglobin between 5-9 gm% with diagnosed iron deficiency anemia were included in the study. The aim was to bring her hemoglobin level to 11gm%. Results: All together 37 patients were enrolled out of which two patient were dropped due to allergic reaction and 35 patients were included in study. Iron sucrose therapy is effective in achieving target hemoglobin of 11gm/dl in 80% of patients. It showed that intravenous iron sucrose significantly (P < 0.001) increase hemoglobin level within two weeks of therapy without any major adverse effects. Conclusions: Iron sucrose therapy is safe, effective and well tolerated for the treatment of iron deficiency anemia. Parental iron therapy was effective in increasing hemoglobin, serum ferritin and other hematological parameters in antenatal and postnatal patients with anemia. The treatment will help to reduce the risk of maternal complication during pregnancy and postpartum and its adverse effect to fetus.