Tests an iron drug given into a vein after surgery with blood loss
Tests an iron drug given into a vein in adults after liver or pancreas surgery.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Improved Recovery by Iron Following Surgery With Blood Loss, the IRIS-trial
Key facts
- Where
- Uppsala, SwedenSee the site
- Phase
- Phase 3
AI summary: who the study is looking for
From the trial's eligibility criteria. Machine-read from the registry text on this page, so it can be wrong. The registry text below and the trial team decide who can take part.
The trial is looking for adults who are scheduled for complex aortic surgery, liver resection or pancreatic resection. It tests whether iron given into a vein after surgery with blood loss helps recovery.
- Age
- Over 18 years of age.
- Sex
- Men and women can join.
- Disease stage
- Scheduled for complex aortic surgery, liver resection or pancreatic resection. The summary says blood loss during surgery must be estimated at 400-4000 ml.
- Earlier treatment
- No iron given into a vein within one month before surgery. No other drug or medical device study within 30 days before joining.
Main reasons for not taking part
- Short expected survival (less than six months)
- Severe anaemia before surgery (B-Hb <80 mg/L)
- Iron overload disorder, such as hemochromatosis
- Kidney replacement therapy before surgery
- Pregnancy
Read by machine on 12 November 2026.
Where in Sweden
- Uppsala University HospitalUppsala, SwedenContact: Jon UnossonTaking people
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations
Print a page for my doctorTrial details
- Who runs it
- Jon Unosson
- Trial code
- NCT05744219
- Record updated
- 21 October 2024
- Original description
The aim of the study is to investigate if iv iron formulation improve recovery after surgery with blood loss.Read full original descriptionShow less
Improved Recovery by Iron Following Surgery With Blood Loss, a Double-blind Multi-centre Randomized Controlled Phase III Drug Trial (the IRIS-trial)
The aim of the study is to investigate if iv iron formulation improve recovery after surgery with blood loss.
Post-operative anaemia is a common debilitating condition after major surgery due to a combination of preoperative iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) and per-operative blood loss. Median blood loss following hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB) and complex aortic surgery typically range between 500-1000 ml. Bioavailability of iron may be a rate limiting factor in erythropoiesis in anaemia secondary to blood loss. For the IRIS trial, it is hypothesized that intravenously (iv) administered Ferric Carboxymaltose after a per-operative blood loss of 400-4000 ml, improves post-operative recovery and reduces the RBC transfusion.
Patients scheduled for elective HPB surgery or complex aortic surgery will be screened for eligibility and recruited into the study.
By the end of the surgical procedure, if blood loss is estimated to 400-4000 ml, the patient is randomized 1:1 to iv 1000 mg Ferric Carboxymaltose or placebo.
The primary endpoint is a composite of death, number of RBC transfusions, post-operative severe anemia (Hb <80 g/L) and FACT-An Quality of life (QoL) five weeks after surgery, assessed by win ratio.
The trial will also examine effects on; a) levels of Hb; b) markers of erythropoiesis and iron bioavailability; c) post-operative complications; d) post-operative recovery; e) performance status; f) subgroups based on type of surgery and degree of anemia and iron deficiency; g) re-admissions; h) long term outcome based on patient medical records and i) how post-operative recovery differs between those with low (<400 ml), high (400-4000 ml) and very high (>4000 ml) per-operative blood loss.
Recruitment will continue until 338 patients are randomized or 304 have completed the five week follow up
The coordinating center of the trial is the Department of Surgery at Uppsala University Hospital. Participating sites are also Linköping University Hospital and Lund University Hospital, all in Sweden. Other sites may be added.
Inclusion: Provision of written informed consent; Male and female patients; Weight > 50 kg; > 18 years of age; Scheduled for complex aortic surgery, liver resection or pancreatic resection.
Exclusion: Intra-venous iron therapy within one month prior to surgery; Severe anaemia (B-Hb <80 mg/L) prior to surgery; Pre-operative renal replacement therapy; Enrolled in another drug or medical device study within 30 days prior to enrolment of the current study; Another planned major surgical procedure before the five week follow up; Iron overloading disorder, i.e. hemochromatosis; Short expected survival (less than six months); Contraindication to Ferric Carboxymaltose according to SmPC; Risk of small for size future liver remnant; Unsuitable for inclusion according to the investigator; Pregnancy.