Am J Perinatol 2007; 24(2): 095-100
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-970179
Copyright © 2007 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

The Efficacy and Safety of Early Supplementation of Iron Polymaltose Complex in Preterm Infants

Shmuel Arnon1 , 3 , Yakov Shiff4 , Ita Litmanovitz1 , 3 , Rivka H. Regev1 , 3 , Sofia Bauer1 , Ruth Shainkin-Kestenbaum2 , Yoram Bental4 , 5 , Tzipora Dolfin1 , 3
  • 1Department of Neonatology, Meir Medical Center, Kfar Saba, Israel
  • 2Department of Biochemistry, Meir Medical Center, Kfar Saba, Israel
  • 3Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
  • 4Department of Neonatology, Laniado Hospital, Natanya, Israel
  • 5Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, the Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
15 February 2007 (online)

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy and safety of early nonionic iron supplementation in preterm infants. Infants with gestational age ≤ 32 weeks who were fed enriched human milk were assigned concurrently to receive 5 mg/kg/d enteral iron polymaltose complex (IPC) at 2 or 4 weeks of age. The levels of hemoglobin, reticulocytes, serum iron, ferritin, and soluble transferrin receptor were recorded at 2, 4, and 8 weeks of age. The incidence of morbidities associated with prematurity and the need for red blood cell transfusions (RBCTs) were recorded. The 2-week group (n = 32) had a better iron status than the 4-week group (n = 36) at 4 weeks and at 8 weeks of age. The incidence of morbidities associated with prematurity was not different among the groups (p = 0.26). RBCT was required in one infants of the 2-week group and in 10 infants in the 4-week group (p = 0.045). The number needed to treat to prevent one RBCT was five. Supplementation of 5 mg/kg/d enteral IPC to preterm infants fed enriched human milk as early as 2 weeks of age was more beneficial to iron status than at 4 weeks of age, and was associated with decreased need for RBCTs and no increase in the incidence of morbidities associated with prematurity.

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Shmuel ArnonM.D. 

Department of Neonatology, Meir Medical Center, Kfar Saba

44281, Israel