Effectiveness of intravenous iron sucrose in management of iron-deficient anemia of pregnancy at rural hospital set up.

OBJECTIVES Critical evaluation of iron sucrose (Malhotra, FOGSI Focus 9-11, 2009) in terms of efficacy, safety, and feasibility at rural setup for the treatment of anemia of pregnancy (Raja et al., Rawal Med J 28: 40-3, 2003) along with any reduction in blood transfusion rate at peripartum period of 37 weeks to 48 h within delivery. METHODS In a prospective cohort study conducted in Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, during the year 2008 AVBRH-Wardha, 256 consecutive women of iron-deficient anemia (IDA) treated with intravenous iron sucrose were studied for feasibility, safety, and efficacy of drug. Blood transfusion rates were compared for the years 2007 and 2008 in cases of antenatal women from 37 weeks onward up to 48 h post delivery. Results were analyzed by Z-test. RESULTS Mean rises in Hb g% were 1.1 ± 0.2, 2.3 ± 0.8, and 3.0 ± 0.4 after 1, 2, and 3 weeks, respectively. Decline in rate of blood transfusion among total anemic women at peripartum period was 9.36 %. CONCLUSION Iron sucrose therapy is very much relevant in rural scenario.