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Saniya Sattar, Saadia Sultana, Wajiha Shadab, Sadaf Afzal, Umm-e Salma and
Ayesha Mobeen

ABSTRACT

Objective: To compare the safety and efficacy of administration of intravenous iron sucrose and ferric carboxymaltose in pregnant females with iron deficiency anemia.

Study Design: Quasi-experimental study

Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the Department of Obs / Gynae, Islamic International Medical College/Pakistan Railway Hospital, Rawalpindi from September 2020 to March 2022.

Materials and Methods: 70 pregnant females diagnosed with iron deficiency anemia in their second or third trimester of pregnancy were included in the study. The pregnant females in the study arm received ferric carboxymaltose while those in the control group received iron sucrose. Patients were followed for six weeks, after which they were assessed for efficacy by assessment of rise in haemoglobin levels and successful treatment was defined as a rise in haemoglobin levels of ≥2.0 g/dL from baseline. Patients were also followed up for the development of side effects, if any, to treatment.

Results: There was no significant difference between the mean haemoglobin levels between ferric carboxymaltose and iron sucrose groups at the time of enrollment in study: 8.6 ± 0.9 g/dL versus 8.7 ± 0.9 g/dL, respectively, (p=0.746). However, haemoglobin levels after six weeks were significantly higher with ferric carboxymaltose: 10.8 ± 1.1 g/dL versus 10.2 ± 1.1 g/dL with iron sucrose, (p=0.008). Additionally, 94.3% of patients in the ferric carboxymaltose group reported no side effects versus 48.6% in the iron sucrose group, (p<0.001).

Conclusion: Ferric carboxymaltose therapy for iron deficiency anaemia in late pregnancy is associated with greater increase in haemoglobin when compared to conventional therapy with iron sucrose along with better safety and tolerability.

Key Words: Iron Deficiency Anemia, Iron Sucrose, Ferric Carboxymaltose, Pregnancy.

Citation of article: Sattar S, Sultana S, Shadab W, Afzal S, Umm-e Salma, Mobeen A. Comparison of Safety and Efficacy of Ferric Carboxymaltose with Iron Sucrose for the Treatment of Iron Deficiency Anemia in Pregnancy. Med Forum 2023;34(2):15-19.