Objectives: To evaluate impact of vitamin D supplemental therapy (VD-ST) and iron ST (IST) on hemoglobin concentration (HC) in pregnant women. Patients & Methods: 187 women pregnant were clinically evaluated and gave blood samples at 1 st trimester for estimation of HC and serum 25OH-VD, ferritin concentration (FC), hepcidin (HPC) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). Women were categorized according to the levels of estimated parameters into control and study groups AD. Women of groups A and C received VD-ST alone, group B received IST alone and group D received both ST. At delivery, HC, extent of change and frequency of pregnancy-associated anemia (PAA) were determined. Results: At 1 st trimester, 71.7% women were anemic and 38.5% had hypoferremia, 77% had VD deficiency (VDD) and 59.4% had both VDD and PAA. Serum HPC and IL-6 levels in anemic women especially those had VDD were significantly higher than control women. At delivery, 35% of control women developed PAA and mean HC was significantly lower than 1 st trimester HC with a median deficit of 4.72 gm/dl (IQR: 2.8-6.4) among studied population. Frequency of anemic women in groups B-D was decreased at delivery by 21.7%, 30.8% and 30.6%, respectively. Statistical analyses defined high serum HPC and IL-6 levels at 1 st trimester as specific early predictors for PAA development, but early institution of ST especially VD-ST is one of the best significant predictors for improved HC at time of delivery. Conclusion: VDD, hypoferremia, higher HPC and IL-6 levels constitute a vicious circle entrapping pregnant women and inducing iron deficiency anemia at delivery. Early institution of VD-ST and IST can burst this circle and induce improvement of HC up to normal range in about 30% of women presented by PAA. Thus, early estimation of HC and serum VD can be used as a guide for early institution of ST.

Objectives:To evaluate dose-related outcome of induction of labor (IOL) using misoprostol vaginal inserts (MVI) in multipara pregnant women so as to determine the appropriate dose for getting trial success defined as having vaginal delivery (VD) within 24-hr induction-todelivery (ITD) interval. Patients & Methods: 644 pregnant women underwent clinical evaluation and vaginal examination to determine Bishop score using the Simplified Bishop Score (SBS). All women received 25 µg MVI only once and were monitored for labor progress as judged by SBS and uterine contractions with fetal heart monitoring. In absence of fetal distress manifestations and membranes were still intact, but uterine contractions occurred <3 times/10 minutes, another MVI was used for a maximum of 6 doses. Uterine contraction augmentation was provided as amniotomy or/and oxytocin infusion started 4-hrs after the last MVI was placed. Study outcomes included trail success rate, number of MVI used, frequency and mode of augmentation and delivery assistance. Results: 530 women (82.3%) had VD; 159 women without augmentation, 182 women had amniotomy, 105 women received oxytocin drip and 84 women required both. Only 168 women (26.1%) had instrumentally-assisted VD. Mean ITD interval was 10.9±6.3 hr; 492 women had ITD interval <24 hr for a trial success rate of 76.4%. Cesarean section was indicted in 114 women (17.7%). Only 29 women received four, 71 three, 93 two, while 451 women received one MVI, VD rate was significantly (p<0.00001) lower among women received higher number of MVI. Statistical analyses defined high MVI dose and BMI as negative, while high parity is a positive significant predictor for trial success. High MVI dose and BMI are positive, while high SBS and high parity are negative significant predictors for long ITD interval. Kaplan-Meier regression analysis defined the appropriate MVI for IOL trial success at a mean dose of 1.5±0.039 (95% CI: 1.4-1.55). Conclusion: MVI is a satisfactory modality for IOL trial in multipara pregnant women with VD rate of 82.3% and ITD interval of <24-hr in 76.4%. Lower BMI and higher number of previous VD indicate higher possibility of trial success. SBS is appropriate for women selection for trial and follow-up and can predict outcome if combined with BMI, parity and number of MVI used.