Khurram Ahmed, Iftikhar Sadiq, Ahmed Wasim Yousuf.
Injectable Iron Therapy: Intramuscular vs Intravenous Therapy.
Biomedica Jan ;16:44-7.

Anemia is an important finding in patients presenting in the obstetrics & gynaecology department. Causes associated with obstetric cases are increased fetomaternal demand, blood loss in ante partum, Intra partum and postpartum period. Lactation, malnutrition and malabsorption are the additional factors. In gynecological cases menorrhagia, malnutrition and malabsorption are the known factors. Iron deficiency is common in both entities which is replaced by oral or injectable therapy Blood transfusion for correction of iron deficiency anemia is indicated in only limited cases. Our study is intended on the comparison of dose, response, economy and the side effects of intramuscular and intravenous iron therapy. Treatment of iron deficiency is replacing the loss and restoring the stores, in addition to treating the cause. This is usually done by oral therapy but in cases where there is poor compliance of the patient even with reduced dose and changed trade, parenteral therapy is instituted. Another indication of parenteral iron supplement is near term or hemoglobin levels below 9 gm/dl. Injectable iron therapy is either by intravenous or Intramuscular route. Twenty years ago the intravenous option was rejected for iron replacement therapy nn the basis of unacceptable side effects like lethal anaphylactic reaction. Now recently a new drug with the name of Venofer (iron sucrose complex) is in use in developed countries for iron supplement. Our study is intended to evaluate the efficacy, side effects and cost-effectiveness of venofer compared to the already in use intramuscular iron therapy (iron sorbitol). It was concluded that Venofer therapy is expensive but has better compliance. Intramuscular therapy is economical and effective but painful.

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