The Prevention of Anaemia of Prematurity

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Abstract
A comparison of mean hemoglobin levels at 4-week intervals between 57 premature babies who received intramuscular injections of an irondextran complex in the newborn period, 75 who received oral iron during the first 6 months of life and 70 who did not receive any prophylactic iron indicates that the intramuscular preparation was the most effective in preventing the anemia of prematurity, especially in the babies of lowest birth weight. It is suggested that oral iron might be satisfactory if its regular administration could be assured. It is also suggested that the introduction of mixed feeding in the fourth month of life may help to maintain a satisfactory hemoglobin level once this has been achieved by the administration of additional iron, but will do no more than check the rate of fall in hemoglobin level if additional iron is not given.

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