Comparative efficacy and safety of intravenous ferric carboxymaltose and iron sucrose for the treatment of preoperative anemia in patients with menorrhagia: An open-label, multicenter, randomized study

Aim To compare ferric carboxymaltose (FCM) with iron sucrose (IS) for the effective and timely treatment of preoperative iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in women with menorrhagia. Methods This open-label, multicenter, two-arm study randomized patients to receive either a single dose of FCM or multiple doses of IS. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients who achieved hemoglobin (Hb) levels >= 10 g/dL within 2 weeks after the first administration. Secondary endpoints included mean Hb levels, time to reach Hb >= 10 g/dL and quality of life (QoL). Results In total, 101 patients (FCM n = 52; IS n = 49) were randomized to the study treatments. FCM was as effective as IS in achieving Hb >= 10 g/dL within 2 weeks after the first administration (78.8% vs 72.3%). The time to reach Hb >= 10 g/dL was significantly shorter in the FCM group than in the IS group (7.7 days vs 10.5 days). Mean Hb levels were higher in the FCM-treated patients than in the IS-treated patients with borderline significance. QoL scores did not differ between the two groups. Conclusion Ferric carboxymaltose is as effective as IS in correcting preoperative IDA among patients with menorrhagia. The added benefits of FCM over IS included significant rapid correction of IDA, replenishment of iron stores and reduced hospital visits.