Journal of Blood Disorders & Transfusion

Abstract

Anemia in Pregnancy & Parenteral Iron Therapy

Raúl H Morales-Borges

Anemia is common in pregnancy and iron deficiency is the most common cause. Oral iron is the standard therapy, but there is a problem of adherence due the gastrointestinal side effects. Intravenous iron therapy has more advantages, therefore, intravenous iron therapy is the best treatment for pregnant women during the third trimester. We reviewed the statistics of deliveries of the fiscal year 2012, the cases of anemia in pregnancy as in patients provided by Record Room from the calendar year 2012 and the patient cases that used sodium ferric gluconate complex in sucrose injection (FERRLECIT) from the Obstetrics/Gynecology Ward from the fiscal year 2012 provided by the Department of Pharmacy of the Ashford Presbyterian Community Hospital (APCH). A review of the records of pregnant women receiving iron dextran injection (INFeD) intravenously in our ambulatory infusion center was also performed. Our data confirmed that either presentations elevated the hemoglobin and they were well tolerable. Iron sucrose is the preferred and it has demonstrated a high success rate. I recommend considering this alternative earlier at the third trimester and establishing guidelines using parenteral iron and erythropoietin in combination in refractory cases.