International Journal of Medical Device and Adjuvant Treatments (May 2020)
A novel combination of alpha-lactalbumin and iron for the management of iron-deficiency anemia in women with menometrorrhagia: a pilot study
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Menometrorrhagia is an excessive and prolonged uterine bleeding occurring at irregular intervals and represents a common gynecological condition in perimenopausal women. Menometrorrhagia can be caused by submucosal myomas and endometrial polyps, although may be associated with hormonal disorders. Iron-deficiency anaemia, is a very prevalent conditions in this pathology. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects obtained administrating iron and alpha-lactalbumin (α-LA) in perimenopausal women affected by functional menometrorrhagia and iron-deficiency anemia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: To address this issue, a cohort of 12 perimenopausal women aged 45-53 years, who presented functional menometrorrhagia, was scheduled for surgery (hysterectomy or myomectomy), since unresponsive or non-compliant to hemostatic treatment with tranexamic acid or to hormonal therapy with norethisterone. Participants were divided into two groups, one consisting of women treated with tranexamic acid and the other with norethisterone. Both groups were treated with an oral association of 30 mg micronized dispersible ferric pyrophosphate (MDFP) and 300 mg α-LA, one tablet per day, for 3 months. Hemoglobin (Hb) was monitored as primary outcome and the detection of any side effects such as constipation, diarrhea, nausea, abdominal cramps, vomiting as secondary outcome. RESULTS: After 3 months of treatment (T1) with MDFP and α-LA, Hb was significantly improved respect to baseline (T0). A higher increase of the Hb values was observed in the patients under hormone therapy, compared with the hemostatic approach, with an increase of 2.30 g/dl vs. 1.60 g/dl from baseline, respectively. No woman showed side effects. CONCLUSIONS: Combined administration of MDFP and α-LA effectively restored the physiological iron status in perimenopausal women with functional menometrorrhagia, without the occurrence of side effects.
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