The Response to Iron in Iron Deficiency

The utilization of iron given orally was compared with that of iron given parenterally in 12 hospitalized gynecologic patients who had severe anemia due to chronic loss of blood. Six received irondextran intramuscularly. The other 6 received ferrous gluconate orally at the rate of 2 gm. per day in divided doses. From data on hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit determinations, reticulocyte count, and blood volume determinations the rate of iron utilization was computed. The mean hemoglobin concentration increased 5.0 gm. per 100 ml. in 19 days following parenteral iron and 4.9 gm. per 100 ml. in 24 days with oral iron. Since the rate of hemoglobin production averaged 3.0 times normal in the parenterally treated and 2.4 times normal in the orally treated group, there seemed to be little reason for preferring the parenteral route in this situation.