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Am J Perinatol 2019; 36(04): 366-376
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1668555
Original Article
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Treatment of Iron Deficiency Anemia in Pregnancy with Intravenous versus Oral Iron: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Shravya Govindappagari
1   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California
,
Richard M. Burwick
1   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

18 March 2018

11 July 2018

Publication Date:
19 August 2018 (online)

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Abstract

Objective To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to assess the benefits of intravenous (IV) iron in pregnancy.

Study Design Systematic review was registered with PROSPERO and performed using PRISMA guidelines. PubMed, MEDLINE, Web of Science, ClinicalTrials.gov, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar were searched. Eleven RCTs, comparing IV to oral iron for treatment of iron-deficiency anemia in pregnancy, were included. Meta-analyses were performed with Stata software (College Station, TX), utilizing random effects model and method of DerSimonian and Laird. Outcomes were assessed by pooled odds ratios (OR) or pooled weighted mean difference (WMD). Sensitivity analyses were performed for heterogeneity.

Results We found that pregnant women receiving IV iron, compared with oral iron, had the following benefits: (1) Achieved target hemoglobin more often, pooled OR 2.66 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.71–4.15), p < 0.001; (2) Increased hemoglobin level after 4 weeks, pooled WMD 0.84 g/dL (95% CI: 0.59–1.09), p < 0.001; (3) Decreased adverse reactions, pooled OR 0.35 (95% CI: 0.18–0.67), p = 0.001. Results were unchanged following sensitivity analyses.

Conclusion In this meta-analysis, IV iron is superior to oral iron for treatment of iron-deficiency anemia in pregnancy. Women receiving IV iron more often achieve desired hemoglobin targets, faster and with fewer side effects.

Keywords

anemia - pregnancy - iron deficiency - oral iron - intravenous iron

Note

These findings were presented as an oral presentation at the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists 2018 Annual Clinical and Scientific Meeting, April 27–30, Austin, TX.


 

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