Changes in markers of anemia and iron metabolism and how they are influenced by antianemics in postpartum period

Abstract

Background: The object of this study was to examine the occurrence of iron deficiency anemia in women after spontaneous delivery, changes in clinical and laboratory indicators of anemia in postpartum period and their possible control by administration of peroral antianemics.

Methods: Ninety pregnant women at 35th to 39th week of gestation were randomly divided into three groups and extensively examined in a laboratory. After delivery, the mothers were examined four times at monthly intervals until the end of the third postpartum month. At the same time, they were examined for their subjective feeling of health, with some focus on typical anemic symptoms. Women in the first group were treated with 80 mg of elemental iron a day for the first two months after childbirth. Women in the second group were treated with 80 mg of elemental iron+0.35 mg of folic acid a day for the same period of time. Women in the control group did not use any medication. McNamara test was used to evaluate the portion of anemic and sideropenic women and for comparison between individual groups.

Results: Findings of the study have shown a faster adjustment of laboratory and clinical indicators of postpartum anemia in women treated with iron. We did not observe the only, sovereign marker of iron deficiency (sideropenic) anemia in the early postpartum period.

Conclusions: We recommend flat administration of iron to all women after spontaneous delivery. Postpartum substitution with iron should last at least three months because of long-lasting sideropenia. Adding folic acid to iron does not have any significant impact during the postpartum period.