Hema Divakar, Rita Singh, Poorni Narayanan, Divakar G. V, Diwakar Thipe, Chaitra S. K, Vidya A. Thobbi
BACKGROUND Although oral and intravenous iron therapies have been indicated for the treatment of iron deficiency anaemia (IDA), their utility is limited. Thus, there is a need for effective iron therapies that can address the limitations of current treatments of choice, given the deleterious effects of IDA. In this study, we determined the effectiveness of syrup, a ferric iron formulation, in correcting IDA in pregnant and postpartum women. MATERIALS AND METHODS The exclusion criteria were as follows: history of anaemia other than IDA, recent blood transfusion, current treatment with myelo-suppressive therapy, intolerance to iron derivatives, significant vaginal bleeding, and history of blood loss due to delivery. The inclusion criteria were as follows: 18 years old or older and with a definitive diagnosis of IDA. Baseline Hb and serum ferritin levels were measured, and additional measurements were made at 6 weeks (only Hb) and 12 weeks. A daily dose of 20 ml of syrup was administered orally by the study participants, twice daily, before meals for a period of 12 weeks. RESULTS Hb in the pregnant subgroup significantly increased from a baseline level of 10.32 ± 0.89 g/dl to 11.12 ± 1.51 g/dl at 12 weeks (P < 0.001). The median serum ferritin median level in this subgroup significantly increased from a baseline concentration of 13.30 ng/ml to a concentration of 28.65 ng/ml at 12 weeks (P < 0.001). In the postpartum subgroup, Hb significantly increased from a baseline level of 9.88 ± 1.14 g/dl to 12.01 ± 1.49 g/dl at 12 weeks (P< 0.001). A higher percentage of participants in the postpartum subgroup achieved at least an Hb level of 12 g/dl between baseline and 12 weeks (P< 0.0001) and at least a 2 g/dl increase in Hb levels between baseline and 12 weeks (P< 0.0001). Adverse effects were not observed. CONCLUSION Ferric iron oral syrup is effective and safe as an oral iron therapy for the correction of IDA in pregnant and postpartum women. (ferric ammonium citrate (160 mg), folic acid (0.5 mg), cyanocobalamin (Vit. B12) (7.5 mcg), cupric sulphate (30 mcg), and manganese sulphate (30 mcg)).
