Effect of Iron Replacement Therapy in Pregnant Beta Thalassemia Carriers with Coexisting Iron Deficiency Anemia

Abstract

Background and Objective: Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) and B -Thalassemia trait are two prevalence
etiologies of microcytic hypochromic anemia. Pregnant women with IDA face significant risk of short-term
and long-term complications for mothers and newborns. The incidence of concurrent thalassemia trait and
iron deficiency was reported to be quite high but despite the high prevalence of these two conditions,a
diagnosis is often underestimated and not properly managed. The present study was conducted to determined
effect of iron therapy in pregnant beta thalassemia carriers with iron deficiency anemia.
Methods: Study Group constitutes 60 beta thalassemia trait pregnant women with iron deficiency anemia
(IDA) with Hb less than 11g/dl, HbA2 levels>3.5% on HPLC and low serum ferritin (<30 ng/mL). After the
initial investigations, participants received iron supplementation as 60 mg elemental iron three times daily
for duration of 8 weeks. After completing therapy, complete blood count and serum ferritin were performed
Results: Iron replacement therapy results in effective increment in hemoglobin, red cell indices and Serum
ferritin.

Conclusion: Pregnant women with beta-thalassemia minor combined with IDA can receive Iron
replacement therapy for improvement in Hemoglobin effectively.