DOI: 10.36347/sajb.2017.v05i02.003

Pages: 102-107

In developing countries, iron deficiency anaemia is a major factor in increasing morbidity of women especially in reproductive age group. Intravenous iron therapy can help tackle the problem and significantly improve the health status of women. The objectives is to assess the efficacy of intravenous iron in the treatment of iron deficiency anaemia observed in obstetrical and gynaecological practice. A prospective cohort study was conducted in the department of obstetrics and gynaecology for a period of 2 years. A total of 108 cases with iron deficiency anaemia were studied. 8 cases were lost to follow up.50 cases were obstetric cases and 50 were gynaecologic cases. On the basis of patient’s choice; either Inj. FCM or Inj. Iron sucrose was given to each group and the rise in haemoglobin over a period of 3 weeks was observed. Out of all the cases studied, maximum belonged to the age group of 21 to 30 years and majority cases also had moderate type of anaemia. 60% obstetric cases were given Inj. FCM and rest 40% cases were given Inj. Iron sucrose. Amongst gynaecologic cases, 76% were given Inj. FCM and 24% were given Inj. Iron sucrose. The mean rise of haemoglobin in FCM group was 3 and 3.5 in obstetric and gynaecologic cases respectively. With Inj. Iron sucrose, the mean rise of haemoglobin in obstetric cases was 2.5 and in gynaecologic cases was 2.8. The rise in haemoglobin after 3 weeks amongst both groups was statistically significant. When we tried to compare the rise in haemoglobin in Obstetrics patients with iron sucrose and Inj. FCM, the rise was extremely significant (p<0.0001) with Inj. FCM. Again, the same when compared in Gynaecology patients, the rise was again found significantly high (p< 0.0160) with Inj. FCM. These p values were calculated with Fisher’s Exact test (SPSS 23). Inj. FCM proved to be better than Inj. Iron sucrose in improving the haemoglobin status of women in Obstetrics & Gynecological practice in terms of both compliance and efficacy.