The use of Ferastral in iron-deficient, non-pregnant Gambian adults.

A new parenteral iron preparation, iron-poly (sorbitol-gluconic acid) complex, (Ferastral) has been evaluated in the treatment of iron-deficient, non-pregnant Gambian adults. A total of twenty patients of both sexes were included in the study. The cause of anaemia in the majority of cases was hookworm infection but also other diagnostic categories were present. Sixteen patients completed their treatment without difficulty. All patients showed a good initial haematological response. Over the first three weeks the mean daily increments followed a linear trend. There was a significant inverse correlation between initial haemoglobin concentration and the increment in concentration after three weeks treatment. Side-effects were noted in four patients; in two patients it was ascribed to treatment, in two there was concurrent infection. Parenteral iron therapy is considered to have definite advantages over oral iron in the tropics because of certainty of administration, replenishment of iron stores, and effectiveness when small bowel disease or dietary factors reduce absorption.