Safety and effectiveness of intravenous iron sucrose versus oral iron for correction of preoperative anemia in women with menorrhagia

To compare the safety and efficacy of iron sucrose over oral iron for the correction of preoperative anemia in women with menorrhagia. Methods: Women with mwnorrhagia having Hemoglobin (Hb) level less than 10 gm/dl and features of iron deficiency were included in the study. Women matching the inclusion and exclusion criteria, allocated to group A (IV iron sucrose) or group B (oral iron). IV iron sucrose was administered as 100 mg (2 ampoules) in 100 ml normal saline by slow IV infusion. The women in the group B received ferrous sulphate as oral iron in the dose of one tablet (200 mg salt) three times a day. Repeat laboratory estimations were done after four weeks. Results were analyzed by paired t test using SPSS 15 and Microsoft excel. Results: Before treatment, mean Hemoglobin level (mean ± SD) was similar in both groups (7.18 ± 1.18 gm/dl in group A and 7.18 ± 1.02 gm/dl in group B). After treatment, rise of Hb level was more in group A (10.70 ± 0.73 gm/dl) than group B (9.64 ± 0.70 gm/dl). After treatment, the desired Hb level of 10 gm/dl or more were achieved in 96% of women in group A while only in 56% of women in group B. Conclusion: Preoperative intravenous iron sucrose administration is more effective than oral iron and is as safe as oral iron therapy in the correction of preoperative anemia due to menorrhagia.