Pregnant women with intractable iron deficiency fare better if treated with 1000mg IV iron dose, requiring fewer repeat infusions than those given half that amount, a study finds.

The randomised controlled trial found a single 1000mg dose of ferric carboxymaltose may be optimal as women in the study arm receiving a dose of 500mg were twice as likely to require repeat infusions both pre- and postpartum, researchers say.

Women given the larger dose had higher ferritin levels up to six months postpartum along with a greater increase in haemoglobin, “reflecting favourable iron availability and utilisation”, the University of Adelaide team said.

Neither dose had an impact on antenatal, neonatal or child outcomes, the National Blood Authority-funded study found.