Haematinics

HAEMATINICS 

Haematinics are agents which are used in the treatment of anaemia and generally act by stimulation of haemoglobin synthesis of erythropoiesis.

Iron

  • Iron is necessary for hamoglobin formation. It is available in the diet.
  • However often it is supplemented for the treatment of deficiency of iron  by giving as oral or parenteral preparation.
  • Oral preparation should be supplied as ferrous sulphate, gluconate and fumarate. The usual dose is 100 - 300 mg / kg for dogs and 50 - 100 mg / kg for cats.
  • Parenteral preparations can be administered if oral preparations are not feasible. Iron dextran can be given as a single injection at 2-3 days of age in neonatal pigs.

Copper

  • Copper is utilized as a cofactor in the synthesis of haemoglobin. Copper deficiency, if suspected is treated by administering copper containing salts such as copper sulphate or copper glycinate.

Cobalt

  • Cobalt is utilized for the synthesis of Vitamin B12. Supplementation is by sulafate or chloride of Cobalt @ 0.2 to 0.5 gm / day for cattle or 0.05 - 0.1 gm / day for sow through feed or oral drenching.

Folic acid

  • Folic acid is also essential for synthesis of DNA and RNA  and thus synthesis of RBCs. Anaemia due to folic acid deficiency is called megaloblatic anaemia. Folic acid is also available by diet from yeast, liver, vegetables etc. Supplementation of folic acid can be given as oral supplements @ 2- 5 mg / kg / day.

Vitamin B12

  • Vitamin B12 is essential for DNA synthesis. Deficiency of Vitamin B12 causes nuclear maturation and division and causes pernicious anaemia. Supplementation is given by parenteral preparations of cyanocobalamin @ 2- 5 µg /kg.  

Erythropoietin

  • It is a glycoprotein hormone produced by renal peritubular cells in response to hypoxic signals received in the kidney. It is essential for normal erythropoiesis. This acts on bone marrow to stimulate erythropoiesis. Erythropoietin is indicated in anaemia due to chronic renal failure. The synthetic form of erythropoietin Epoetin alfa is available and is given subcutaneous injections.

Anabolic steroids

  • These are testosterone like copounds with protein anabolic activity. They increase circulating RBC mass. They are indicated in chronic nonregenerative anaemias. Nandrolone, Stanozalol are producys that are available to be given by oral route.
Last modified: Wednesday, 25 April 2012, 11:58 AM