Intravenous iron-dextran therapy in the treatment of anemia occurring in surgical, gynecologic and obstetric patients.

An infusion of iron-dextran diluted in 1,000 milliliters of physiologic saline solution was given to 51 patients. The average hemoglobin response was 1.9 grams per deciliter per week. Mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration and mean corpuscular hemoglobin deficits also were corrected. There were no allergic reactions. This is an extremely reliable and safe method of replenishing depleted iron in patients.