Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Iron deficiency anemia is an important public health problem, especially for infants and children. Oral iron supplements are the cheapest, safest, and most effective treatment. This study was designed to compare two therapeutic options of oral ferric citrate according to the dosage intervals in iron deficiency anemia.

METHODS

The 3-month to 18-year old infants and children with iron-deficiency anemia were included in study. An open label trial was performed. One Hundred and sixty seven children with iron deficiency anemia were randomly divided into two groups. The conventional daily treatment was applied to Group 1 (n=96) whereas intermittent iron therapy was applied to Group 2 (n=71). Ferrous iron supplements were administered to Group 2 in every 48 hours. Hematological parameters were evaluated in both groups before treatment, after 10 days, and at the end of a month period.

RESULTS

When the hematological parameters were compared, there were no statistically differences between hemoglobin, red cell distribution width, mean corpuscular volume, serum iron, and ferritin levels of conventional and intermittent treatment groups. The only significant difference between the two groups was the transferrin saturation levels in the 10th day. The change in hemoglobin percentage in the first 10 days and the period between the 10th day to 1 month varied among the groups.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

Oral iron supplements may also improve iron deficiency with alternative treatment regimens. The results of this study support intermittent iron therapy as a more practical, effective, safer, cheaper and manageable alternative therapy for the iron deficiency anemia.