Treatment for women with postpartum iron deficiency anaemia.

Study answer

What this study found

Overall, erythropoietin with iron showed limited but generally favourable effects on haematologic recovery, while evidence for clinically important outcomes remained sparse. In Meyer 1995, i.v. EPO versus placebo increased haemoglobin by 0.40 g/dL within 2 weeks (95% CI -0.26 to 1.06) and haematocrit by 1.60% (95% CI -0.42 to 3.62). Pooled EPO plus iron versus iron suggested fewer blood transfusions (RR 0.20, 95% CI 0.01 to 3.92) and more lactation at discharge (RR 1.90, 95% CI 1.21 to 2.98), but the transfusion result was imprecise and most outcomes were laboratory-based. The review…

Study & population

Systematic review of randomized trials in women with postpartum iron deficiency anaemia, generally defined as haemoglobin below 12 g/dL within 6 weeks after delivery.

Intervention

Erythropoietin was evaluated in multiple postpartum regimens, usually combined with iron and sometimes folic acid.

Key limitation

Evidence was limited to small trials with heterogeneous EPO schedules, routes, and co-treatments.

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Original abstract