IRON DEFICIENCY ANEMIA

Abstract

Objective: To compare the efficacy of Ferrous sulfate with iron polymaltosecomplex in treatment of iron deficiency anemia in children in terms of rise in hemoglobin. Studydesign: Randomized clinical trial. Setting: Department of Paediatric Medicine Unit I AlliedHospital Faisalabad. Study duration: 6 months. Methodology: All the children of age group6 month to 12year with hemoglobin level <10g/dl, MCV<70fl corrected for age, MCHC<32%,serum ferritin<8μg/l were included. All other cases of anemia other than iron deficiency anemiasuch as thalassemia, sickle cell anemia, lead poisoning etc, patients with severe anemia(hb≤6g/dl) because they need blood transfusion to correct anemia, those with decompensatedheart failure or acute infection were excluded. After enrolment patients were randomly dividedinto two groups by lottery method. Group A, patients were given ferrous sulphate. Group B,patients were given iron polymaltose complex (IPC). Both iron preparations were given inthe dose of 5mg/kg/day of elemental iron in three divided dosage 30 minutes before meals.Patients were assessed at one month interval after the start of treatment and hemoglobin waschecked at follow up visit by taking 2cc blood. Results: Sixty children were studied. Meanage was 2.5 ± 5.1 years, range 7 months to 12 years with 32 girls, 28 boys. The patients wereevenly distributed between the two treatment groups (IPC, n = 30, 50%; ferrous sulfate, n =30, 50%). All erythrocyte-related hematologic parameters after one month treatment showed asignificant improvement from baseline with both treatments. A significant improvement in Hbwas observed after one month treatment in the IPC group 9.5 ± 1.1g/dL to 10.6 ±1.0 g/dL andthe ferrous sulfate group 9.4 ± 1.6 g/dL to 11.2 ± 0.9 g/dL which was statistically significant.Conclusion: From this randomized study, it is concluded that both ferrous sulphate and ironpolymaltose complex have equal efficacy in treatment of iron deficiency anemia