IRON DEFICIENCY ANEMIA

COMPARISON OF EFFICACY OF FERROUS SULPHATE WITH IRON POLYMALTOSE COMPLEX FOR TREATMENT OF IRON DEFICIENCY ANEMIA.

Abstract

Objective: To compare the efficacy of Ferrous sulfate with iron polymaltose
complex in treatment of iron deficiency anemia in children in terms of rise in hemoglobin. Study
design: Randomized clinical trial. Setting: Department of Paediatric Medicine Unit I Allied
Hospital Faisalabad. Study duration: 6 months. Methodology: All the children of age group
6 month to 12year with hemoglobin level <10g/dl, MCV<70fl corrected for age, MCHC<32%,
serum ferritin<8μg/l were included. All other cases of anemia other than iron deficiency anemia
such as thalassemia, sickle cell anemia, lead poisoning etc, patients with severe anemia
(hb≤6g/dl) because they need blood transfusion to correct anemia, those with decompensated
heart failure or acute infection were excluded. After enrolment patients were randomly divided
into two groups by lottery method. Group A, patients were given ferrous sulphate. Group B,
patients were given iron polymaltose complex (IPC). Both iron preparations were given in
the dose of 5mg/kg/day of elemental iron in three divided dosage 30 minutes before meals.
Patients were assessed at one month interval after the start of treatment and hemoglobin was
checked at follow up visit by taking 2cc blood. Results: Sixty children were studied. Mean
age was 2.5 ± 5.1 years, range 7 months to 12 years with 32 girls, 28 boys. The patients were
evenly distributed between the two treatment groups (IPC, n = 30, 50%; ferrous sulfate, n =
30, 50%). All erythrocyte-related hematologic parameters after one month treatment showed a
significant improvement from baseline with both treatments. A significant improvement in Hb
was observed after one month treatment in the IPC group 9.5 ± 1.1g/dL to 10.6 ±1.0 g/dL and
the ferrous sulfate group 9.4 ± 1.6 g/dL to 11.2 ± 0.9 g/dL which was statistically significant.
Conclusion: From this randomized study, it is concluded that both ferrous sulphate and iron
polymaltose complex have equal efficacy in treatment of iron deficiency anemia