Trial of IV vs Oral Iron Treatment of Iron Deficiency Anemia in the Post-Operative Bariatric Surgical Patient

NCT04268849 | Recruiting Phase 3 FDA Drug

• 1 other identifier: BariatricsProtocol100719
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 104
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Given the limited long-term effectiveness of traditional weight loss methods, bariatric surgery is increasingly becoming the preferred option for sustained weight loss. With the ascendancy of the laparoscopic approach, the two most common procedures are the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and the vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG). Because bariatric surgery decreases nutrient intake through restriction, malabsorption, or both, and given that obese patients are often malnourished even before surgery, postoperative micronutrient deficiency, particularly of iron, can be a serious complication and difficult to treat. Iron deficiency anemia has been reported to be as high as 49% in the post-bariatric surgical patient. The current standard for correcting iron deficiency anemia in the post-operative bariatric surgical patient is oral iron supplements. However, oral iron therapy is known for its caustic effects on the gastric mucosa causing gastric irritation, nausea, epigastric discomfort and constipation. These debilitating symptoms lead to poor adherence and lower long and short-term efficacy. Furthermore, iron absorption from oral iron supplements when taken with food in patients with low iron stores ranges from 2 to 13% and without food 5 to 28%. An alternative and more effective method of iron replenishment is the use of intravenous iron. A litany of published trials, without contradiction, show marked superiority of intravenous iron in improving hemoglobin concentrations and iron parameters when compared to historical controls. Nonetheless, the current recommendations of the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery nutritional guidelines, state that oral iron supplementation for IDA is the recommended first line of treatment. Studies are lacking that compare the efficacy of oral versus intravenous (IV) iron therapy for the treatment of IDA in the post-bariatric surgical patient. The aim of our study is to compare two accepted treatments for iron deficiency anemia (oral ferrous sulfate and intravenous ferumoxytol) for efficacy and speed of response in the treatment of IDA in the post-operative bariatric surgical patient. In this study, 104 bariatric surgical post-operative patients will be randomly assigned 52 each to oral or 52 to a single dose IV iron treatment using double-blind procedures. The primary outcome will be determined at 6 weeks of treatment with a follow-up at 12 months after treatment. Non-responders at 6 weeks after treatment may, if they qualify (based on inclusion/exclusion criteria), have an open-label IV iron treatment and will be followed with the same evaluations used after the first IV iron treatments.

Conditions

Iron Deficiency Anemia

Keywords

Bariatric Surgery; Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB); Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy (VSG)

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Change in Clinical Global Impression - improvement scale (CGI-2) score at 6 weeks after treatment begins.

  The CGI-2 is a measure of treatment response and the efficacy of the treatment based on a 1 to 7 scale where 1 is "very much better" and 7 "very much worse"

  6 weeks

• Change in hemoglobin concentration

  6 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Change in ferritin > 20%

  6 weeks

• Change in Transferrin saturation (TSAT) >19%

  6 weeks

• Quality of Life by visual linear analog scale (LASA)

  6 weeks

Study Arms (2)

Oral Iron

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

The subject will receive one IV infusion of ferumoxytol administered as 1020 mg over 30 minutes or an equivalent volume of normal saline. At the time of the infusion, the patient will also be given an opaque bottle, containing either vitamin C tablets or ferrous sulfate 325 mg.

Drug: Ferumoxytol; Drug: Saline; Drug: Ferrous sulfate tablets; Drug: Vitamin C

IV Iron

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

The subject will receive one IV infusion of ferumoxytol administered as 1020 mg over 30 minutes or an equivalent volume of normal saline. At the time of the infusion, the patient will also be given an opaque bottle, containing either vitamin C tablets or ferrous sulfate 325 mg.

Drug: Ferumoxytol; Drug: Saline; Drug: Ferrous sulfate tablets; Drug: Vitamin C

Interventions

Ferumoxytol DRUG

Ferumoxytol (30 mg/mL) intravenous injection in single use vials.

IV Iron; Oral Iron

Saline DRUG

Placebo for Ferumoxytol

IV Iron; Oral Iron

Ferrous sulfate tablets DRUG

ferrous sulfate tablets containing 60 mg elemental iron

IV Iron; Oral Iron

Vitamin C DRUG

Placebo: Vitamin C, 250 mg, given in the same bottle as the oral iron

IV Iron; Oral Iron

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Aged ≥ 18 years
• Patients who have undergone a Roux-en Y Gastric Bypass or Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy and are at least 3 months or more out from surgery.
• Iron deficiency anemia defined as iron deficient with either ferritin\<30 mcg/l, TSAT\<20%, or anemia with Hgb\<13 g/dL for both males and females.
• Willingness to participate and signing the informed consent form.

You may not qualify if:

• Iron overload or disturbances in utilization of iron (e.g. hemochromatosis and hemosiderosis)
• Decompensated liver cirrhosis or active hepatitis (ALAT \> 3 times upper limit of normal)
• Serum ferritin \> 400 ng/mL or transferrin saturation \>40 %
• Active acute or chronic infections (assessed by clinical judgment that may be indicated by White Blood Cells (WBC) and C-Reactive Protein (CRP) when these are available)
• Rheumatoid arthritis with symptoms or signs of active inflammation
• Pregnant and nursing women
• History of multiple allergies (two or more)
• Known hypersensitivity to ferumoxytol or oral iron or any excipients in the drug products
• Previous IV iron treatment for IDA
• Other iron treatment or blood transfusion within 4 weeks prior to the screening or treatment visit
• Planned elective surgery during the study
• Any other medical condition that, in the opinion of Investigator, may cause the subject to be unsuitable for the completion of the study or place the subject at potential risk from being in the study, e.g. a malignancy, uncontrolled hypertension, unstable ischemic heart disease, or uncontrolled diabetes mellitus

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Auerbach Hematology Oncology Associates P C: lead
• AMAG Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Auerbach Hematology and Oncology

Baltimore, Maryland, 21237, United States

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Anemia, Iron-Deficiency

Interventions

Ferrosoferric Oxide; Sodium Chloride; Iron-Dextran Complex; Ascorbic Acid

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Anemia, Hypochromic; Anemia; Hematologic Diseases; Hemic and Lymphatic Diseases; Iron Deficiencies; Iron Metabolism Disorders; Metabolic Diseases; Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Ferric Compounds; Iron Compounds; Inorganic Chemicals; Ferrous Compounds; Minerals; Chlorides; Hydrochloric Acid; Chlorine Compounds; Sodium Compounds; Coordination Complexes; Organic Chemicals; Dextrans; Glucans; Polysaccharides; Carbohydrates; Sugar Acids; Acids, Acyclic; Carboxylic Acids; Hydroxy Acids

Central Study Contacts

Michael Auerbach, MD

CONTACT

4107804050; mauerbachmd@abhemonc.com

Stella Rineer, RN

CONTACT

410 7804050; srineer@yahoo.com

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: phase 3
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: QUADRUPLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, CARE PROVIDER, INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: Patients will wear sleep masks to blind intravenous intervention
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Model Details: Double blind, double dummy of oral versus intravenous iron for iron deficiency patients after bariatric surgery. All subjects will get either oral iron and intravenous saline, or oral vitamin C and intravenous iron.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 11, 2020
• First Posted: February 13, 2020
• Study Start: February 27, 2020
• Primary Completion: November 1, 2025
• Study Completion: February 1, 2026
• Last Updated: October 3, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-09

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)