Intravenous iron sucrose complex vs. oral ferrous sulfate for postpartum iron deficiency anemia.

Anemia is defined by a decrease in hemoglobin concentration, with a consequent decrease in hematocrit. It is the most common medical disorder in pregnancy. The 2 most common causes of anemia are iron deficiency and acute blood loss at delivery [1]. Depending on the severity of the blood loss, anemic postpartum patients can be at increased risk for morbidity and even mortality [2], and anemia due to heavy bleeding during delivery should be corrected without delay. The absorption of iron from oral supplements is influenced by dose, the patient’s iron stores, and time of intake in relation to meal time. Parenteral administration of iron, as an alternative for oral therapy, provides a quick and certain correction of the total iron deficit [3].