Abstract

Objective: Present study was longitudinal and randomized study. The Aim of present study was to evaluate the relative effectiveness of two different oral Iron regimens on hematological parameters among anemic pregnant woman.

Material and Methods: A total of 64 pregnant anemic woman having hemoglobin level between 7 mg/dl to 11.5 gm/dl with no any obstetric complications attending the GOPD were selected for study. All the pregnant women were divided in two groups according to Iron supplement. Group A: pregnant woman (n=32) was receiving 200 mg of oral iron supplement once daily and Group B: pregnant woman ( n=32) were taking 200 mg of oral iron supplement twice weekly. Follow up visit were planned after every 4 weeks and total duration of study was 12 weeks. In each follow up thorough physical and clinical examination was done, any side effect after taking iron supplements were noted, after that blood sample was taken for evaluation of hematological parameter (Hemoglobin, RBC count, Hematocrit, MCV, MCH, MCHC, Reticulocyte count and serum ferritin). All the test were run on fully automated five part CBC machine supplied by Horiba.

Results: All the hematological parameter showed significant improvement in both the study groups. Hemoglobin, hematocrit and RBC count showed a non significant better response in twice weekly group. While MCH, MCHC and Reticulocyte count showed a significant better response in twice weekly group. MCV showed a significant better response in daily group.

Conclusion: Twice weekly iron supplementation is equally effective to treat anemia during pregnancy. Daily iron intake results in greater increase in MCV which might be an additional cause of physiological macrocytosis.

Keywords: Iron deficiency anemia (IDA), MCH, MCHC, MCV, Reticulocyte count, Hemoglobin, RBC.