INTRAVENOUS IRON VERSUS ORAL IRON THERAPY IN POSTPARTUM ANAEMIA IN RURAL INDIA

To compare effectiveness of intravenous iron-sucrose versus oral ferrous sulphate in pospartum anemia in rural area.METHODS AND MATERIAL: In this study, 120 women with postpartum anemia with hemoglobin (Hb) less than 10 g/dl within 48 h postpartum were randomised into two groups.Group I consisted of 60 women who received 300-600 mg of intravenous iron-sucrose every alternate day for 3 days.Group II consisted of 60 women who were given 300 mg ferrous sulphate orally daily for a month.Data collected after 1 month for Hb estimation and other postpartum parameters are assessed.RESULTS: The mean Hb was significantly increased in the intravenous iron sucrose group in 4th week of treatment but there was minimal change observed in mean Hb in patients treated with oral ferrous sulphate.Women treated with intravenous iron sucrose has shown significantly higher Hb as compared to those treated with oral iron.CONCLUSIONS: Overall intravenous iron sucrose appears to be an effective and safe mode of treatment in postpartum patients with no serious side effects than oral iron therapy.