Randomized controlled trial comparing ferric carboxymaltose and iron sucrose for treatment of iron deficiency anemia due to abnormal uterine bleeding

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intravenous ferric carboxymaltose (FCM) in comparison with intravenous iron sucrose (ISC) in the treatment of anemia due to abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB).

Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted between April 2013 and May 2014 in patients older than 18 years of age presenting at a hospital in New Delhi, India, with anemia due to AUB. Patients were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive treatment with intravenous FCM or ISC. The primary outcome, increase in hemoglobin above baseline, was monitored over a 12-week period. Patients completing the full treatment and follow-up protocol were included in the analyses. Participants and investigators were not masked to treatment allocations.

Results: Overall, 30 patients were assigned to each group. Increases in mean hemoglobin levels from baseline were significantly higher in the FCM group at 6 weeks (P=0.005). At 12 weeks, there was no significant difference in hemoglobin increase from baseline between the two groups (P=0.11). Adverse events were similar between both treatment groups.

Conclusion: Treatment with FCM resulted in a rapid increase in hemoglobin levels in patients with anemia due to AUB, with similar increases in hemoglobin over a 12-week period. Clinical Trial Registration (www.ctri.nic.in):CTRI/2015/09/006224.

Keywords: Abnormal uterine bleeding; Ferric carboxymaltose; Iron deficiency anemia; Iron sucrose.