Comparison of Intravenous with Oral Iron in Management of Iron Deficiency Anemia in Pregnancy

Background: Iron deficiency anemia is a common nutritional disorder during pregnancy and is associated with adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes. Oral iron is widely used, but poor adherence, gastrointestinal intolerance, and slow replenishment of iron stores may limit its effectiveness. Objective: To compare the therapeutic effectiveness of intravenous iron sucrose and oral ferrous sulphate in pregnant women with iron deficiency anemia. Methods: This comparative clinical study was conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Bolan Medical Complex Hospital, Quetta, from October 15, 2024, to April 16, 2025. One hundred pregnant women with iron deficiency anemia were allocated into two equal groups. Group A received oral ferrous sulphate, while Group B received intravenous iron sucrose. Hemoglobin and serum ferritin were measured before treatment and after three weeks. Results: Mean hemoglobin increased from 9.32 ± 0.63 to 10.32 ± 0.62 g/dL in the oral iron group and from 8.82 ± 1.01 to 10.91 ± 1.20 g/dL in the intravenous iron group. The mean hemoglobin rise was greater with intravenous iron than oral iron (2.09 ± 0.51 vs 1.00 ± 0.36 g/dL; p<0.001). Serum ferritin increased by 21.76 ± 5.97 µg/L in the intravenous group compared with 2.95 ± 0.88 µg/L in the oral group (p<0.001). Conclusion: Intravenous iron sucrose was more effective than oral iron in improving hemoglobin and serum ferritin levels in pregnant women with iron deficiency anemia.