Active clinical trials for "Fetal Growth Retardation"

A randomized clinical trial to assess the efficiency of acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) 150 mg/day started before 20 weeks of gestation in the prevention on maternal and fœtal complications in pregnant women with chronic hypertension.

Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is a significant health care issue, affecting 20,000 Australian pregnancies every year. Undetected FGR is one of the key risk factors for stillbirth, but FGR can also cause significant impairments in short and long-term health outcomes for the child. It is a major risk factor for preterm birth and is a recognised causal pathway to the neurodevelopmental injury underlying cognitive and behavioural impairment and cerebral palsy. Current obstetric care is focused on the detection of the growth restricted fetus and then ultrasound assessment of fetal wellbeing to guide timing of delivery. This approach seeks to maximize the gestational age of the fetus at delivery to minimise the risks of prematurity, while delivering the fetus in time to reduce the likelihood of stillbirth. Currently, no therapies exist that can maximize fetal wellbeing in the setting of growth restriction and minimise the frequency of antenatally acquired brain injury due to in-utero hypoxia. This triple-blind, randomized, parallel group, placebo-controlled trial will administer maternal melatonin or placebo supplementation antenatally in the setting of early-onset severe FGR to determine whether melatonin can PROTECT the fetal brain and lead to improved neurodevelopmental outcomes.

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare how two methods for cervical ripening work in a population of singleton pregnancies with late-onset fetal growth restriction (FGR) at term. The main question it aims to answer is whether Cook´s balloon (a mechanical method) is superior to vaginal dinoprostone (a pharmacological method) in achieving a vaginal delivery, without increasing neonatal morbidity. Participants will be randomized to receive Cook´s balloon (experimental group) or vaginal dinoprostone (control group) for cervical ripening. Researchers will compare both groups to see if Cook´s balloon is associated with a higher rate of vaginal delivery than vaginal dinoprostone and is not related to increased neonatal morbidity.

Historically and traditionally, the recommendations related to physical exercise during pregnancy have been based more on moral or cultural issues than on scientific evidence. During some phases of history, pregnancy has meant a period of seclusion for women (not only physical). One of the adverse consequences has been the common recommendation of rest as a general rule for pregnant women. Scientific evidence from recent years has achieved a better understanding of the process of pregnancy and childbirth as well as maternal and fetal responses to exercise. Currently, both from a scientific and clinical/obstetric point of view, there is no doubt about the benefits of an active pregnancy for entire body of pregnant woman, and even her child. In fact, risks of a sedentary lifestyle are applicable to the pregnancy situation, even more with important associated complications during pregnancy and postpartum period. Unfortunately, the impact of COVID-19 has caused an unprecedented global crisis, in this sense the necessary measures taken by the different administrations, especially in terms of confinement causes (from now on) a large number of complications affecting different populations. In summary a complex situation without established prevention strategies exists. The pregnant population is, due to the nature of the gestation and delivery process, one of the population groups with the highest risk of adverse outcomes and associated complications and whose consequences include the mother, fetus, newborn and even children. According to an important body of scientific literature and based on an epigenetic effect, the intrauterine environment can be a determining factor for the future human being to evolve regardless of complications and pathologies (cardiovascular, metabolic, psychic, emotional). This is demonstrated by numerous recent scientific evidences that confirm the unfortunate association between an adverse intrauterine environment (due to various factors) and observable postnatal pathologies in infants. In addition, current publications report the large number and variety of alterations that the COVID-19 situation causes in pregnant women and that includes the entire female organism. This complex situation does not only affect aspects of a physical or physiological nature, but also psychic and emotional factors. In summary, a new state of confinement or similar situations in the near future (impossibility of groupings, distance between people), avoid during the daily life of pregnant women one of the important and recent recommendations made by the international scientific community: a pregnancy physically active. This is especially relevant, due to the dangerous association between complications of a psychological or emotional nature during pregnancy with pre, peri and postnatal disorders (low birth weights, perinatal complications, altered and prolonged deliveries, etc.), which affect not only to the mother and can determine the health of the future human being. According to the scientific literature and based on an epigenetic effect, the intrauterine environment can be a determining aspect in the health of the future human being and the prevention of complications and pathologies (cardiovascular, metabolic, psychic, emotional). This is demonstrated by numerous and recent scientific evidences that confirm the unfortunate association between an adverse intrauterine environment (due to various factors) and different pathologies during and after pregnancy. It is evident the change that COVID-19 and its effects will generate in the lifestyle of the pregnant population and the increased probability of suffering associated pathologies in the next 24-36 months. No preventive actions have yet been planned in Spain and its public hospitals against the impact of COVID-19 on the quality of life of pregnant women. It is urgent to design and perform an adequate strategy of intervention for its possible prevention. From the scientific point of view, the recommendations are clear and concrete, an aerobic exercise program, designed and supervised by professionals from the Sciences of Physical Activity and Sports, is the best option for pregnant women. In this sense, in the last 30 years, physical exercise has proven to have many benefits for pregnant women, without causing risks or adverse effects on maternal-fetal well-being. This is confirmed by an important body of scientific literature on gestational physical exercise and its effects on pregnancy outcomes.

Early fetal growth restriction (FGR) is associated with considerable fetal and neonatal morbimortality (Miller et al. 2008, Nardozza et al. 2017). Placental thrombosis, infarcts and hypercoagulability are frequently seen in these pregnancies, suggesting a role for the activation of the coagulation cascade in the genesis of FGR. Patients will be randomized for low-molecular weight heparin or standard of care, and the outcomes of both arms (gestational age at delivery, gestational and fetal morbidity) will be compared.

The primary aim of the study is to evaluate the effect of fortified balanced energy and protein (BEP) supplementation vs. control (multiple micronutrient supplement, MMS) without targeting and with targeting (either by low prepregnancy BMI or low prepregnancy BMI and inadequate gestational weight gain) on birth weight and adverse birth outcomes of low birth weight (LBW < 2500 g) and small-for-gestational age (SGA). To do this we are proposing a cluster-randomized, open labeled effectiveness trial with four arms The main question[s] it aims to answer are: • Does mean birth weight and rate of LBW and SGA differ among mothers randomized to four arms that include targeted or untargeted BEP supplementation vs. MMS differ. Participants will be recruited in early pregnancy and be enrolled in the trial and randomly receive: A daily BEP supplement from enrollment until birth A daily BEP supplement from enrollment until birth, if they have low pre-pregnancy BMI with the rest receiving a MMS supplement A daily BEP supplement from enrollment until birth, if they have low pre-pregnancy BMI with the rest receiving a MMS supplement or get switched to a BEP supplement based on inadequate gestational weight gain. Researchers will compare the above groups to women receiving a MMS daily to see if birth weight is higher in the intervention arms. Other adverse outcomes such as low birth weight, small-for-gestational age and preterm birth will also be compared between groups and relative to the control.

Pregnancy in sickle cell disease (SCD) is fraught with many complications including preeclampsia (PE) and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). Previously, the investigators found an abnormality in prostacyclin-thromboxane ratio in sickle cell pregnant women, a situation that is also found in non-sickle pregnancies with PE and unexplained IUGR. Low dose aspirin (LDA) has been found to reduce the incidence of PE and IUGR in high-risk women due to its reduction of vasoconstrictor thromboxane whilst sparing prostacyclin, in effect "correcting" the ratio. It has been found to be safe for use in pregnancy and is recommended in obstetric guidelines for this use but has not been tested in sickle cell pregnancy. The investigators hypothesize that LDA would reduce the incidence of IUGR and PE in pregnant haemoglobin (Hb)SS women. The investigators also plan to build a machine-learning model to predict severe maternal outcomes in them. The investigators propose a multi-site, randomized, controlled, double blind trial comparing a daily dose of 100mg aspirin with placebo, from 12 - 28 weeks gestation until 36 weeks. The study sites are three teaching hospitals in Lagos and Ile-Ife, and twelve general hospitals and one federal medical centre within Lagos state, with the coordinating centre at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos (CMUL), Idi-Araba, Lagos. A total of 476 eligible pregnant HbSS and HbSC women will be recruited consecutively and randomly assigned to either group using a web-based app, sealed envelope. Each study group will comprise 238 pregnant women with SCD. All participants will be followed from recruitment till delivery. They will have their body weight, blood pressure and haematocrit checked at each antenatal visit. Their full blood count, vital signs and oxygen saturation will be checked and recorded at each visit. Primary outcome measure will be birth weight below 10th centile for gestational age on INTERGROWTH 21 birthweight charts, and incidence of miscarriage or perinatal death. Analysis will be by intention to treat, and the main treatment effects will be quantified by relative risk with 95% confidence intervals, at a 5% significance level. The investigators plan to develop a prediction model to predict the risk of complications in these women using machine learning. The prediction outcome will be severe maternal outcomes comprising maternal near miss or death.

Singleton pregnancies being diagnosed of fetal growth restriction from 24 to 32.6 weeks of gestation will be randomized to two equally sized groups: maternal oral supplementation with Lactoferrin and DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid) or placebo.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the safety and performance of an acoustic approach based on skin-contact microphones as a routine assessment of placental vascular function as predictor of fetal growth restriction.

Preeclampsia (PE) affects ~5% of pregnancies. Although improved obstetrical care has significantly diminished associated maternal mortality, PE remains a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality in the world. Term PE accounts for 70% of all PE and a large proportion of maternal-fetal morbidity related with this condition. Prediction and prevention of term PE remains unsolved. Previously proposed approaches are based on combined screening and/or prophylactic drugs, but these policies are unlikely to be implementable in many world settings. Recent evidence shows that sFlt1-PlGF ratio at 35-37w predicts term PE with 80% detection rate. Likewise, recent studies demonstrate that induction of labor (IOL) from 37w is safe. The investigators hypothesize that a single-step universal screening for term PE based on sFlt1/PlGF ratio at 35-37w followed by IOL from 37w would reduce the prevalence of term PE without increasing cesarean section rates or adverse neonatal outcomes. The investigators propose a randomized clinical trial to evaluate the impact of a screening of term PE with sFlt-1/PlGF ratio in asymptomatic nulliparous women at 35-37w. Women will be assigned to revealed (sFlt-1/PlGF known to clinicians) versus concealed (unknown) arms. A cutoff of >90th centile will be used to define high risk of PE and offer IOL from 37w. If successful, the results of this trial will provide evidence to support a simple universal screening strategy reducing the prevalence of term PE, which could be applicable in most healthcare settings and have enormous implications on perinatal outcomes and public health policies worldwide.