Iron Deficiency Anaemia in Pregnancy: A Contemporary Review

Overview

Journal Obstet Med

Specialty Gynecology & Obstetrics

Date 2021 Aug 16

PMID 34394714

Citations 19

Authors

Charlotte S Benson

Akshay Shah

Matthew C Frise

Charlotte J Frise

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Iron deficiency anaemia is a global health problem, which particularly affects pregnant women. Iron deficiency anaemia during pregnancy is associated with increased maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. Maternal iron deficiency may also be associated with neurocognitive deficits in infants. Iron requirements increase during pregnancy and are influenced by hepcidin, the master regulator of iron homeostasis. The enduring global burden of maternal anaemia suggests that currently employed iron supplementation strategies are suboptimal. Recent developments in our understanding of systemic and placental iron homeostasis may improve therapeutic effectiveness by altering the dose and frequency of oral iron. Intravenous iron appears to be a safe treatment to correct maternal anaemia rapidly but research on patient-centred outcomes and cost-effectiveness is needed. Future trials should be adequately powered to assess outcomes relevant to pregnant women.

Citing Articles

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The role of iron deficiency and factors associated with anemia during pregnancy in Southeastern Tigray, Ethiopia, 2020.

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