LAUSR

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Our objective is to study the efficacy and safety of parenteral nutrition (PN) with iron sucrose to prevent anemia in preterm infants. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN We performed a randomized, double-blind controlled trial in which preterm infants were divided into five groups randomly: a control group (PN without iron sucrose, namely group Iron-0), and intervention groups (PN with iron sucrose 100 μg/kg/d, 200 μg/kg/d, 300 μg/kg/d and 400 μg/kg/d, namely group Iron-1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively). The indicators were red blood cell (RBC) parameters, iron storage and oxidant stress. RESULTS One hundred infants completed this study. Excepting the RBC count in Iron-2, the value of erythrocyte parameters in intervention groups decreased less than that in the control group. And the decrease of RBC count in Iron-1 (-0.6×1012/L vs -0.9×1012/L, p=0.033), hemoglobin in Iron-4 (-26.0 g/L vs -41.0 g/L, p=0.03) and hematocrit in Iron-1(-9.5% vs -14.0%, p=0.014) was significantly less than in the control group. The change of ferritin in Iron-4 was significantly higher than in the control group (280 ng/ml vs 118 ng/ml, p=0.04). There was no difference in serum iron in intervention groups when compared to the control group (p>0.05). Except for the change of malondialdehyde (MDA) in Iron-1, the increase in other intervention groups was higher than in the control group (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS PN with iron sucrose for prevention of anemia in preterm infants is safe and efficacious to some extent.