Ensayo clínico aleatorizado para evaluar la efectividad de dos vías de administración de hierro, oral e intravenosa, en el tratamiento de la anemia ferropénica posparto

Abstract

ObjectiveTo compare the effect of treatment with oral and intravenous iron in postpartum iron deficiency anemia. Material and methodThirteen women with hemoglobin values of 7-10g/dl and ferritin values of < 15 microgram/l at 24h postdelivery were randomized in two groups: one group received intravenous iron (two doses of 200mg ferrous sucrose) on days 2 and 4 after labor and the other group received standard treatment with oral ferrous sulphate 200mg twice daily for 6 weeks. ResultsBy day 7, ferritin levels were significantly higher (p=0.002) in the group treated with intravenous iron (298.3±159,1μg/l) than in that treated with oral iron (21.3±9.4μg/l). By day 14, differences between these two groups were also detected (123.7±65.1μg/l in the intravenous iron group and 24.6±9.3μg/l in the oral iron group, p=0.004). Hemoglobin and hematocrit levels increased in both groups on days 7, 14 and 42 with no statistically significant differences. Adverse effects were detected in the oral iron group only (29%, n=2), although all were mild. ConclusionsIntravenous iron could be an alternative in the treatment of postpartum iron deficiency anemia, especially in patients who are unable to tolerate or who reject oral formulations.