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Enrolling by invitation NCT04762992

LMWH for Treatment of Early Fetal Growth Restriction (HepaGrowth)

Phase III Interventional Fetal Growth Retardation Prematurity Pre-Eclampsia

For patients and families

In plain language

An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.

What is being studied
The protocol lists: subcutaneous Enoxaparin, standard of care.
Who it may be relevant to
Registry conditions: Fetal Growth Retardation, Prematurity, Pre-Eclampsia. Basic parameters: from 18 years · Female.
What needs checking
Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
Where it takes place
Portugal
Next step
Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →

Unsure about the terms? Read our patient guide →

Official title

Low Molecular Weight Heparin for the Treatment of Early Fetal Growth Restriction

Overview

Early fetal growth restriction (FGR) is associated with considerable fetal and neonatal morbimortality. 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.

Detailed description

FGR is the second leading cause of perinatal mortality, being associated with approximately 30% of stillbirths. Early FGR is associated with substantial disturbances of placental implantation and fetal hypoxia, which requires fetal cardiovascular adaptation. Both maternal and fetal Doppler alterations are present, allowing for risk stratification and monitoring. Although the precise etiology for FGR due to placental causes is unknown, placental thrombosis, infarcts and hypercoagulability are frequently seen, suggesting a role for the activation of the coagulation cascade in the genesis of FGR. Currently, the management of early FGR is limited to the monitoring of fetal Doppler parameters until the risks for preterm delivery outweight the benefits of ongoing monitoring. As such, there is a special need for effective preventive and therapeutic interventions that improve the outcomes. Low molecular weight heparin (LMWH), for its anticoagulant and anti-inflammatory properties has been suggested as a possible therapeutic agent in this setting. The investigators will randomize the participants to two intervention arms in a one-to-one ratio, using a computer generated randomization program. The randomization will be stratified for gestational age at diagnosis of FGR (22 to 26 weeks and \>26 to 32 weeks). The experimental group will be administered enoxaparin subcutaneous injections (40 mg, 4000 IU daily) and the control group will be provided standard of care. Both groups will start intervention immediately after the diagnosis of FGR, and will continue it until 36 weeks of gestation or 12 hours before delivery, whichever comes first.

Interventions

  • Drug subcutaneous Enoxaparin
    Enoxaparin subcutaneous injections (40 mg, 4000 IU daily) starting immediately after the diagnosis of FGR, and until 36 weeks of gestation or 12 hours before delivery, whichever comes first.
  • Other standard of care
    Obsteric standard of care.

Primary outcome measures

  • Gestational age at delivery [Time frame: day of delivery]
Secondary outcome measures (11)
  • Neonatal birtweight and birthweight centile [Time frame: day of delivery]
  • Newborn Apgar Score in the 5th minute [Time frame: day of delivery]
  • Newborn Umbilical Artery pH [Time frame: day of delivery]
  • Stillbirth, neonatal intensive care admission and duration of admission [Time frame: from randomization up to 1 year after delivery]
  • Maternal and fetal Doppler parameters [Time frame: from randomization to delivery]
  • Placental pathology [Time frame: day of delivery]
  • Sflt1-PLGF ratio [Time frame: from randomization to delivery]
  • Syncytiotrophoblast membrane extracellular vesicles (STB-EV) [Time frame: from randomization up to 1 week after delivery]
  • Gestational hypertension or preeclampsia; placental abruption [Time frame: from randomization up to 1 week after delivery]
  • Antepartum hemorrhage; maternal thrombocytopenia (platelets < 100 000 x 10 9/L); postpartum hemorrhage [Time frame: from randomization up to 1 week after delivery]
  • Mode and indication for delivery [Time frame: from randomization up to 48h after delivery]

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion criteria

  • being 18 years old or older
  • being able to provide consent
  • having a viable singleton pregnancy with diagnosed early FGR confirmed in our unit according to the 2020 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics \& Gynecology (ISUOG) criteria (one solitary parameter: estimated fetal weight/ abdominal circumference lower than the 3rd centile or absent end-diastolic flow in umbilical artery; or estimated fetal weight/abdominal circumference below the 10th centile combined with either umbilical artery pulsatility index > 95th centile or uterine artery mean pulsatility index > 95th centile)

Exclusion criteria

  • multiple gestation;
  • diagnosed fetal chromosomal abnormalities;
  • associated fetal morphological malformations;
  • evidence of fetal infection (serological or after invasive testing);
  • use of LMWH or NFH in the index pregnancy before randomization or start of any of these medications for another indication if the patient is in the control group
  • present use of systemic salicylates in anti-inflammatory dosage (> 150mg/day) or NSAIDs (including ketorolac)
  • maternal history of allergy to LMWH or non-fractionated heparin (NFH);
  • hypersensitivity to pork products;
  • maternal history of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia;
  • maternal thrombocytopenia (platelets < 100 000);
  • history of maternal hemophilia or Von Willebrand disease
  • presence of placental hematoma;
  • maternal diabetic retinopathy;
  • bacterial endocarditis;
  • active clinically significant bleeding and conditions with a high risk of hemorrhage, including recent hemorrhagic stroke, gastrointestinal ulcer, presence of malignant neoplasm at high risk of bleeding, recent brain, spinal or ophthalmic surgery, known or suspected esophageal varices, arteriovenous malformations, vascular aneurysms or major intraspinal or intracerebral vascular abnormalities;
  • persistent blood pressure > 160/100 mmHg, despite optimal anti-hypertensive regimen;
  • history of severe renal disease (eGFR <30mL/min);
  • known or suspected hepatic impairment;
  • current participation in another clinical trial;
  • patients that are not part of the national health system (SNS);
  • delivery already scheduled, or predicted in the next 7 days.

Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.

Healthy volunteers: No

Study design

Allocation
Randomized
Model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Double blind
Primary purpose
Treatment

Study locations

Portugal · 1 center
  • Centro de Diagnóstico Pré-Natal, Maternidade Dr. Alfredo da Costa, Centro Hospitalar Unive — Lisbon

Publications

  • Miller J, Turan S, Baschat AA. Fetal growth restriction. Semin Perinatol. 2008 Aug;32(4):274-80. doi: 10.1053/j.semperi.2008.04.010. PMID 18652928
  • Nardozza LMM, Zamarian ACP, Araujo Junior E. New Definition of Fetal Growth Restriction: Consensus Regarding a Major Obstetric Complication. Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet. 2017 Jul;39(7):315-316. doi: 10.1055/s-0037-1603741. Epub 2017 Jun 12. No abstract available. PMID 28605820
  • Arbeille P, Maulik D, Fignon A, Stale H, Berson M, Bodard S, Locatelli A. Assessment of the fetal PO2 changes by cerebral and umbilical Doppler on lamb fetuses during acute hypoxia. Ultrasound Med Biol. 1995;21(7):861-70. doi: 10.1016/0301-5629(95)00025-m. PMID 7491742
  • Nardozza LM, Caetano AC, Zamarian AC, Mazzola JB, Silva CP, Marcal VM, Lobo TF, Peixoto AB, Araujo Junior E. Fetal growth restriction: current knowledge. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2017 May;295(5):1061-1077. doi: 10.1007/s00404-017-4341-9. Epub 2017 Mar 11. PMID 28285426
  • Elder MG, Myatt L. Coagulation and fibrinolysis in pregnancies complicated by fetal growth retardation. Br J Obstet Gynaecol. 1976 May;83(5):355-60. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1976.tb00842.x. PMID 1268144
  • Bellart J, Gilabert R, Fontcuberta J, Carreras E, Miralles RM, Cabero L. Coagulation and fibrinolytic parameters in normal pregnancy and in pregnancy complicated by intrauterine growth retardation. Am J Perinatol. 1998 Feb;15(2):81-5. doi: 10.1055/s-2007-993903. PMID 9514130
  • Fuke Y, Aono T, Imai S, Suehara N, Fujita T, Nakayama M. Clinical significance and treatment of massive intervillous fibrin deposition associated with recurrent fetal growth retardation. Gynecol Obstet Invest. 1994;38(1):5-9. doi: 10.1159/000292434. PMID 7959327
  • Seravalli V, Baschat AA. A uniform management approach to optimize outcome in fetal growth restriction. Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am. 2015 Jun;42(2):275-88. doi: 10.1016/j.ogc.2015.01.005. PMID 26002166

Identifiers

NCT: NCT04762992 · CHULC.CI.452.2018

Primary sources (government registries)

View this study on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗