Intravenous Versus Oral Iron in Late Pregnancy: Results of Treatment

Phase 4

Completed

Interventions: Drug: Ferli-6® (Continental Pharm co., ltd.)
Drug: Venofer® (Vifor AG, St. Gallen, Switzerland)

Brief Summary: The purpose of this study is to compare the efficacy of body iron storage replenishment between low dose intravenous iron and oral iron in late pregnancy.

Detailed Description: Despite routine antenatal oral iron supplementation, the prevalence of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy in developing countries remains high. Apparently, intravenous iron sucrose appears to be safe and efficient in treating within a short period. From literature review, no study of intravenous iron for IDA treatment has been carried out in the third trimester of pregnancy. This research aims to compare the efficacy of body iron storage replenishment at 3 weeks as labor may take place at this point in some women. In this study,500 mg intravenous iron has been given weekly instead of every other day for the sake of patient's convenience in the hope that parenteral iron may become another alternative for treatment of pregnant women with iron deficiency anemia who have difficulties or failures with oral iron.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria

Age 18-45 years old
Singleton pregnancy at 32 weeks gestation
Having anemia in the third trimester according to World Health Organization, namely, with a hemoglobin level of < 11 g/dL or hematocrit of < 33%
Having no underlying disease such as hypertension, gestational diabetes mellitus, heart disease, peptic ulcer, etc.
Having no history of allergy to iron containing medication
Having no history or other allergic conditions or asthma
Having no thalassemia disease, for examples: B thalassemia major, hemoglobin E/ B thalassemia, homozygous hemoglobin E, Hemoglobin H, AE Bart disease, and EF Bart disease. Pregnant women who have iron deficiency anemia and are thalassemia carriers such as A-thalassemia 1, B-thalassemia, or less severe Hb E/ B thalassemia are able to enter the study.
Having no history of bleeding tendency
Having no history of blood transfusion within the prior 120 days
Having no history of delivery before 36 weeks gestation
Giving consent and having signed the consent form for this study

Exclusion Criteria

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Ferrous fumarate, Ferri-6®, Oral tablet	Ferli-6® (Continental Pharm co., ltd.)	In the O-group, women had to take 3 ferrous fumarate tablets (Ferli-6®) everyday with a total of 200 mg of elemental iron per day from 33 weeks gestation until delivery. Emphasizing and monitoring for compliance to the treatment protocol were carried out.
iron sucrose, Venofer®, intravenous drug	Venofer® (Vifor AG, St. Gallen, Switzerland)	Women in the IV-group received 500 mg iron sucrose (Venofer®, Vifor International AG, St. Gallen, Switzerland) divided into three weekly administrations. Two doses of 200 mg iron sucrose were given at 33 and 34 weeks gestation while the remaining (100 mg) was infused at gestation of 35 weeks. Thereafter, women in this group received no further iron therapy until delivery. In preparation, 200 mg of iron sucrose was diluted into 100 ml of 0.9% saline solution.

Primary Outcome Measures