Comparative study between intravenous iron sucrose and ferric carboxymaltose for treatment of anemia in pregnant women in rural tertiary care centre : Single blind randomized control trial

Anemia in pregnancy is a major public health problem in India and is associated with adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. Intravenous iron therapy is recommended in moderate to severe anemia or when oral iron is poorly tolerated or ineffective. Among the available intravenous iron preparations, iron sucrose and ferric carboxymaltose are commonly used; however, comparative data regarding their efficacy and safety in pregnant women in rural tertiary care settings are limited.

This study is a single-centre, single-blind, randomized, active-controlled, parallel-group trial designed to compare the efficacy and safety of intravenous iron sucrose and ferric carboxymaltose in the treatment of anemia in pregnant women. Eligible pregnant women diagnosed with anemia will be randomly allocated into two groups. One group will recieve intravenous iron sucrose, and the other group will recieve intravenous ferric carboxymaltose, administered as per standard treatment protocols based on calculated iron requirement.

The primary outcome will be the change in hemoglobin levels from baseline to follow-up and improvement in iron stores, need for additional iron therapy, and occurrence of adverse events. Participants will be assessed at baseline and during follow-up visits at predefined time points.

The results of this study will help in determining the comparative effectiveness and safety of intravenous iron sucrose and ferric carboxymaltose, thereby guiding optimal management of anemia in pregnant women in rural tertiary care settings.