# Introduction naemia still has been prevailing as a significant global public health problem especially in low to middle economic countries, responsible for 40% of maternal deaths and out of which it accounts for 25% among direct cause. Besides maternal mortality it also causes increased perinatal morbidity and mortality although it is a major preventable cause of unfavourable perinatal and maternal outcome . There are various national programmes undertaken by Government of India catering to anaemia especially for pregnant population which has largely emphasised the oral iron supplementation but still the picture is gloomy and we have to go a long way. Prevalence of Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) in pregnancy in India ranges from 23.6%-61.4% [1] . # II. # Materials and Methods This study was conducted in the department of obstetrics and gynaecology at Upper India Sugar Exchange Maternity Hospital, G.S.V.M. Medical College, Kanpur over a period from January 2019 to July 2020 after approval from ethical committee G.S.V.M Medical College Kanpur. Study subjects: All antenatal patients, with hemoglobin range between 7-10.9 g/dl irrespective of parity. # Type of Study-Prospective interventional randomized clinical study. # Inclusion Criteria: Patients willing to participate and follow up. ? Antenatal patients with a period of gestation 16-32 weeks. ? Haemoglobin level between 7-10.9 g/dl. # Methodology After written and informed consent of patients were enrolled in the study according to inclusion criteria. Sahli's method was used to know the baseline hemoglobin. A Different forms of oral iron preparations are available widely claiming the increased absorption rate with decreased side effect and have established to be a preferred route of administration for mild to moderate anaemia among pregnant population, but all has their own limitations like gastrointestinal side effects. Apart from oral preparation, parenteraliron sucrose therapy is an upcoming effective alternative but the main disadvantage of intravenous (IV) iron sucrose is that it cannot be administered at a higher dose because of the risk of toxicity, thus requiring frequent visits to the hospital [2] . Intravenous ferric carboxymaltose (FCM) have been developed recently; its properties like near neutral pH, physiological osmolarity and increased bioavailability permit the administration of large doses (15 mg/kg; maximum of 1000 mg/infusion) in a single and rapid session (15-minute infusion) without the requirement of a test dose [3]. It has a very low immunogenic potential and therefore not predisposed to anaphylactic reaction. Therefore, we undertook this study with the aim to compare the efficacy and tolerability of intravenous ferric carboxymaltose with oral iron therapy in pregnant population. Total 235 pregnant women were included in the study, who were divided into 2 groups according to degree of anaemia. 1. Preventive Group (9 -10.9g/dl) 2. Therapeutic Group (7 -9g/dl) Further these groups were divided into two subgroups IA, IB, IIA, IIB. Number of patients in these groups were [IA (n=60), IB(n=55), IIA(n=65), IIB(n=55)]. ? Group I: Preventive Group IA were treated with tablets of ferrous ascorbate once a day containing 100mg elemental iron as well as 5 mg of folic acid with tablet vitamin C 500 mg. IB were treated with intravenous ferric corboxymaltose 1000 mg single dose. ? Group II: Therapeutic Group: IIA were treated with ferrous ascorbate 200mg elemental iron twice a day containing folic acid with tablet vitamin C 500mg. IIB were treated with intravenous ferric carboxymaltose according to the calculated dose. Iron Dose calculation: The total dose required for Hb restoration and repletion of iron stores was calculated by following Ganzoni formulae. # Total Iron deficit (mg) = Body weight in Kg x (target hemoglobin -actual hemoglobin) gm/dl x 2.4 + 1000 mg for iron storage Ferric Carboxymaltose was administered only by I.V. drip infusion -maximum single dose of 500-1000 mg (20 ml) diluted in 100 ml sterile 0.9% NaCl solution over 15 minutes not more than once a week. The patients were asked to follow up after 1 week, 3 weeks, 6 weeks and then till delivery. 1. Day 0: The blood samples were taken for the following investigations (Hb, MCV, MCH, MCHC and serum ferritin level, peripheral blood picture, reticulocyte count) before starting medication to know the baseline values. 2. 1 weeks: to assess the reticulocyte count. During each follow up visit, they were subjected to general examination and obstetrical examination. The patients were explained to record and observe the adverse effects and instructed to report immediately if serious adverse drug reaction occurs. Any adverse event like metallic taste, nausea, vomiting, dyspepsia, diarrhoea and constipation were recorded on the case record form in every follow up. Compliance was checked by verbal enquiry and verified by asking blackening of stools and staining of tongue. IV. # Statistical Analysis Statistical analysis was done to analyse the difference in all the hematological parameters among the groups using percentages and chi-square test for categorical variables. # Results Majority of patients had mean age of 27.59±3.08 years in all groups. Mean age of gestation was 21.65±3.83 week, 47.33% were primigravida and 53.71% were multigravida, 56.42% belonged to rural, 17% were illiterate and 18.76% had primary level of education in our study. All groups were comparable in terms of sociodemographic and general characteristics of study populations. Mean reticulocyte count of group IIA was 0.96±0.28% and that's of group IIB was 0.87±0.21% which was comparable before the intervention. At 1week post treatment, rise was higher in group IIB as compared to group IIA. Mean rise in reticulocyte count was 0.31±0.17 % in group IIA and 0.99±0.28 % in group IIB which was statistically highly significant (p<0.0001). It was found that the mean rise in Hb and serum ferritin were higher in ferric carboxymaltose group as compare to ferrous ascorbate which was statistically highly significant (p<0.0001). 3). # Table 4: Comparison of Side Effects of FCM & Ferrous Ascorbate Mild side effects were observed in 2.7% patients in FCM groups, while it was observed that 50.6% of patients in oral ferrous ascorbate group had significant side effects. No major adverse effects were noted making both the iron preparations safe in pregnancy (Table 4). # VI. # Discussion Iron deficiency anaemia is one of the most important causes of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality in developing world, so it should be corrected in all pregnant women to decrease its adverse related outcome. The aim of our study was to compare the efficacy, safety, tolerability and feto-maternal outcome of intravenous ferric carboxymaltose with oral ferrous ascorbate in pregnant women having mild to moderate iron deficiency anaemia. In our study, we found that for both preventive and therapeutic groups mean rise in haemoglobin at 6weeks post treatment was significantly higher in intravenous FCM group as compared to oral iron. Bhargava and Maheshwari et al [4] , Deeba et al [5] studied that rise in haemoglobin was higher in intravenous group as compared to oral iron group. Myers et al [6] studied that ferric carboxymaltose group had the meanrise in hemoglobin was higher as compared to iron dextran after 6 weeks. Onken et al [7] study in antenatal patients, showed significant rise in mean hemoglobin in intravenous ferric carboxymaltose group as compared to oral iron. In our study, there was a significant rise in serum ferritin levels after 6 weeks in preventive and therapeutic groups which was higher in intravenous FCM as compared to oral ferrous ascorbate which was highly significant. Deeba et al studied showed similar results as rise in serum ferritin after 6 weeks in ferrous ascorbate and Mishra V et al [8] found that mean serum ferritin risehigher in ferric carboxymaltose group. Mean rise in MCV, MCH, MCHC in therapeutic group at 6 weekswere higher in intravenous FCM as compare to oral ferrous ascorbate groups and was highly significant. Ambily J et al [9] results were comparable with our study. Fetomaternal outcomes were found better in intravenous FCM as compared to oral ferrous ascorbate but was not significant. Needs of blood transfusion and postpartum haemorrhage reduced in FCM group. Anouk pel etal [10] had done retrospective study and concluded that ferric carboxymaltose had slight less complications rate. Gastrointestinal complications were more in oral ferrous ascorbate and which was nil in intravenous ferric carboxymaltose. were more as compared to intravenous ferric carboxymaltose. Iftikar et al [11] and Onken et al [12] proved that ferric carboxymaltose was well tolerated and showed better compliance than oral iron. Froessler et al [13] also reported minimal side effects with intravenous ferric carboxymaltose. VII. # Conclusion We deduced that all haematological parameters (Hb, reticulocyte count, mean rise in hemoglobin at 3 and 6 weeks and serum ferritin level) were significantly increased in intravenousferric carboxymaltose group as compared to oral iron group. Although various oral iron preparations are mainstay of treatment of anaemia in pregnancy claiming higher absorption as well as bioavailability, but in current scenario, injection ferric carboxymaltose seems superior to oral iron therapy as a definite treatment of iron deficiency anaemia in pregnancy in both second and third trimester of pregnancy. Based on the observations of our study it is thus worthy to say that Ferric carboxymaltose, due to its high efficacy, tolerability and safety profile can revolutionize the management of iron deficiency anaemia in pregnancy. Therefore, it must be used as a first line drug for decreasing the high incidence and burden of the iron deficiency especially in our health set up. Therapy contributing to be the maternal morbidity and mortality as well in cutting down the economic burden on the health system of our country. ![3. 3 weeks: to assess the Hb, MCV, MCH, MCHC levels. 4. 6 weeks: to assess the Hb, MCV, MCH, MCHC & Serum ferritin levels. 5. Followed till delivery: to assess maternal & fetal outcome.](image-2.png "") 1VariablesIA(Mean±SD)IB(Mean±SD))p-valueBaseline hemoglobin(g/dl)9.59±0.519.68±0.53<0.0001Hemoglobin at 34-37 wk12.20±0.4512.70±0.58<0.0001Hemoglobin(g/dl) rise at 34-37wk2.71±0.393.06±0.53<0.0001Baseline serum ferritin39.01±9.042.42±12.06<0.0001Serum ferritin rise at 6 weeks17.30±5.8985.17±15.86<0.0001Mean reticulocyte count in patients of group IArise in Hb was 2.71±0.39 g/dl in group IA andwas 1.10±0.30and of group IB was 1.04±0.22 after3.06±0.53g/dl in group IB. Thus, statistically the1week post treatment, which was significantly higher indifference was highly significant (p<0.0001) (Table 1)latter group (1.40 versus 1.80 g/dl; p<0.0001). Mean 2VariableIA(Mean±SD)IIB(Mean±SD)P-VALUEBaseline hemoglobin8.22±0.527.97±0.59<0.0001Hb (rise at 3 week)0.89±0.362.24±0.58<0.0001Hb (rise at 6 week)2.06±0.533.79±0.68<0.0001Baseline serum ferritin20.09±4.2218.17±4.27<0.0001Ferritn (rise at 6 week)19.64±8.1087.94±14.14<0.0001 3VariablesIIA(Mean±SD)IIB(Mean±SD)P-VALUEBaseline MCV75.17±3.7675.70±4.57<0.0001MCV (rise at 6 week)7.62±2.6211.60±2.89<0.0001Baseline MCH26.34±1.5426.22±1.54<0.0001MCH (rise at 6 weeks)3.68±1.837.25±2.04<0.0001Baseline MCHC28.39±1.9728.37±2.07<0.0001MCHC (rise at 6 weeks)3.99±1.536.73±1.45<0.0001Mean rise in mean corpuscular volume (MCV),higher in ferric carboxymaltose group (IIB) as comparedmeancorpuscularhemoglobin(MCH),meanto oral ferrous ascorbate group (IIA) which wascorpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) wassignificant (TABLE © 2021 Global Journals * A comparative study of efficacy and safety of intravenous ferric carboxymaltose versus iron sucrose in the treatment of iron deficiency anaemia of pregnancy in a tertiary care hospital AMahajan BRBhagat SGupta BMahajan MVerma Int J Reprod Contracept Obstet Gynecol 7 2018 * Comparison of intravenous iron sucrose with iron in pregnant women with iron deficiency anaemia SRudra AChandna JNath Int J Reprod Contracept Obstet Gynecol 5 3 2016 * A Comparative Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Single Dose Intravenous Iron Carboxymaltose vs Multidose Iron Sucrose in Postpartum Cases of Severe Iron Deficiency Anemia RGarg SSingh SSingh RRajvanshi Journal of South Asian Federation of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 7 1 2015 Jan * Evaluation of intravenous iron versus oral iron in management of iron deficiency anemia in pregnancy with specific reference to body iron store RBhargava MMaheshwari Journal of Evolution of Medical and Dental Sciences 2 16 2013 Apr 22 * Iron Deficiency Anemia in Pregnancy: Intravenous Versus Oral Route DShafi SVPurandare AVSathe 10.1007/s13224-012-0222-0 J ObstetGynecol India 62 2012 * Intravenous iron therapy in patients with iron deficiency anemia: dosing considerations TAKoch JMyers LTGoodnough Anemia 2015 Jan 1. 2015 * Ferric carboxymaltose in patients with iron-deficiency anemia and impaired renal function: the REPAIR-IDA trial JEOnken DBBregman RAHarrington DMorris JBuerkert DHamerski HIftikhar RMangoo-Karim ERMartin COMartinez GENewman Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation 29 4 2014 Apr 1 * Iron deficiency anemia with menorrhagia: Ferric carboxymaltose a safer alternative to blood transfusion VMishra RVerneker KGandhi SChoudhary SLamba 2018 Apr 9 92 Journal of mid-life health * Comparison of ferric Carboxymaltose and iron sucrose complex for treatment of iron deficiency anemia in pregnancyrandomised controlled trial AJose RMahey JBSharma NBhatla RSaxena MKalaivani AKriplani BMC pregnancy and childbirth 19 1 2019 Dec * Safety and efficacy of ferric carboxymaltose in anemic pregnant women: a retrospective case control study APels WGanzevoort Obstetrics and gynecology international 2015 Nov 24. 2015 * Direct comparison of the safety and efficacy of ferric carboxymaltose versus iron dextran in patients with iron deficiency anemia IHussain JBhoyroo AButcher TAKoch AHe DBBregman Anemia 2013 Jan 1. 2013 * Intravenous ferric carboxymaltose for anaemia in pregnancy BFroessler JCollingwood NAHodyl BMC Pregnancy Child Birth 14 115 2014