title: Long-term efficacy of postpartum intravenous iron therapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The potential benefits of administering a dose of intravenous iron in patients with moderate postpartum anaemia rather than oral iron alone remains unproven.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether a single injection of intravenous iron followed by a 6-week course of oral iron is as effective over 6 months in restoring normal haemoglobin levels and replenishing iron stores in women with moderate postpartum anaemia as a course of oral iron alone in women with mild postpartum anaemia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective two-arm cohort study in women with mild postpartum anaemia (haemoglobin 9.6-10.5 g/dL) prescribed iron daily for 6 weeks (N=150) and women with moderate postpartum anaemia (haemoglobin 8.5-9.5 g/dL), given a single 500 mg injection of intravenous iron followed by iron daily for 6 weeks (N=75). Haemoglobin and ferritin were measured 6 months postpartum.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Haemoglobin returned to similar mean levels in both groups. Ferritin levels were statistically significantly higher in the intravenous+oral group (57.7±49.3 μg/L versus 32.9±20.1 μg/L).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite lower baseline haemoglobin, intravenous iron carboxymaltose was superior to oral iron alone in replenishing iron stores in moderate postpartum anaemia and may prove similarly beneficial in mild postpartum anaemia.
authors.affiliation: Division of Obstetrics, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Nadine
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-4288-1849
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Becuzzi
authors.affiliation: Division of Obstetrics, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zimmermann
authors.affiliation: Division of Obstetrics, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-6768-2083
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Krafft
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000740:Anemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000378:metabolism; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007501:Iron / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D049590:Postpartum Period; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron