BACKGROUND Anaemia is one of the major public health problems in developing nations. Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) is the commonest type of anaemia in pregnancy. Parenteral iron therapy is a recommended modality of treatment of IDA. Inj. Ferric Carboxymaltose (FCM) is a dextran free preparation which is safe, easy to deliver and better tolerated. A maximum of 1000 mg can be infused at a time. The present study was intended to assess the efficacy and safety of Inj. FCM in the treatment of iron deficiency anaemia in the second and third trimester. METHODS This prospective study was conducted at a tertiary care centre at Pune. Pregnant women with iron deficiency anaemia of moderate and severe grade were infused 1000 mg of Inj. FCM by longer infusion protocol. A total of 165 pregnant women were included in the study. The efficacy of Inj. FCM was monitored by the rise in the haemoglobin level at 03-, 06- and 08-weeks post infusion of FCM injection and serum Ferritin levels. The safety was assessed by analysing the adverse reactions. RESULTS No serious adverse reaction was recorded in any of the patients. The rise in haemoglobin (Hb) in second and third trimester of moderate and severe grade of anaemia was significant (P < 0.001). The target level of 10 g / dl was achieved in every patient. Only 03 patients received blood transfusion and that was for obstetric indications. No blood transfusion was because of anaemia per se. The rise in serum ferritin level was also statistically significant (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Inj. FCM is an excellent modality to treat iron deficiency anaemia in pregnancy. It is safe and the rise of haemoglobin with correction of anaemia is satisfactory in a short span of time. In our country where only a handful of patients had regular antenatal check-up and non-compliancy and refractory anaemia is rampant, Inj. FCM is a big boon. KEYWORDS Iron Deficiency Anaemia, Inj. Ferric Carboxymaltose, Serum Ferritin, Blood Transfusion
ROLE OF CBC WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO RDW-CV IN DETECTING EARLY IRON DEFICIENCY ANAEMIA IN PREGNANCY
