[Alternative management of iron deficiency anemia in pregnancy and puerperium]

An open, observative, prospective, follow-up study was performed in 80 obstetric patients at the 20 de novembre Hospital in Mexico city between november 1986 and august 1987. There were two groups: 40 pregnant patients (between 15 and 35 weeks of pregnancy), and 40 puerperants (between 1st and 6th day or puerperium), both groups had confirmed diagnosis of iron deficiency anaemia; iron-deficiency was estimated upon haemoglobin level, patients body weight and obstetric status. After that, diluted dextran-iron was infused intraveously, six weeks after iron infusion the patients were evaluated. Haemoglobin, haematocrit and red blood cell levels showed a significant rise. Abnormalities observed in the blood smear decreased; 10% of the patients in both groups showed slight secondary reactions, which were self-limited or subside with medical therapy.