Comparative study of intravenous iron sucrose and oral iron for the treatment of anemia in pregnancy

Anemia is directly or indirectly responsible for 40% of maternal mortality in India. In spite of National anemia control programme the prevalence of Iron deficiency anemia in pregnant women continues to be high in our country. The present study was conducted in Government Maternity Hospital, S.V. Medical College, Tirupati to compare the efficacy of Oral iron and Intravenous iron sucrose. Intravenous iron sucrose administration showed statistically significant improvement in hemoglobin level of 2.95gm/dl and PCV rise of 7.34% within a short time, compared to oral iron. Target level of hemoglobin i.e. 11gm% was achieved in 34% of women given intravenous iron sucrose, compared to none in oral group within a period of six weeks. In view of the failure of oral iron in the correction of anemia to significant extent in pregnant women with moderate anemia intravenous administration of iron under supervision is a better alternative for women with moderate anemia.