Prednisolone Administration in Patients With Unexplained REcurrent MIscarriages

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Recurrent miscarriages (RM) affects 3% of all fertile couples, but remains unexplained in most cases, limiting therapeutic options. Possibly the maternal immune system plays a role in recurrent miscarriage. Prednisolone suppresses the immune system and might enable development of normal pregnancy. In this randomized controlled clinical trial the investigators will study the effect of prednisolone on the live birth rate in patients with RM. Secondary, the tolerability and safety for mother and child and the cost-effectiveness is investigated. In the study one group of pregnant women with RM and gestational age <7 weeks will receive prednisolone, the other group will receive a placebo. Total use of the medicine during this study is 8 weeks, further care during the study is routinely antenatal care. Subjects will be asked to fill in 4 short questionnaires and will have contact with a research nurse at different time points to gain information on the course of the pregnancy and possible side effects. Results of the study will be implemented in (inter) national guidelines, to effect everyday practice.

Detailed Description
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Rationale: Recurrent miscarriage (RM) is defined as 2 or more spontaneous miscarriages. It affects 3% of all fertile couples and in less than 50% an underlying cause may be identified. Thus far, none of the therapies tested in women with unexplained RM showed improvement of the live birth rate (LBR). As the fetus is a semi-allograft, which escapes maternal immune rejection in normal pregnancy, many studies proposed the involvement of immunological mechanism in RM. Glucocorticoids could have an effect on these mechanisms. Indeed, a recent meta-analysis has shown a beneficial effect on live birth rate for treatment with prednisolone therapy (RR 1.58, 95% CI 1.23-2.02). The included trials however were inadequately powered, differed in inclusion criteria or contained co-intervention with heparin and aspirin. In addition, most patients were selected based on the natural killer cell density in prior uterine biopsy, though this has not yet proven to be a valid biomarker. Objectives: To assess the effectiveness of prednisolone administration, as compared to placebo, on the LBR in an unselected population of women with unexplained RM. Secondary, the effectiveness of prednisolone on the LBR in various subgroups, the tolerability and safety of prednisolone, the cost-effectiveness and the effect on immune cell levels is studied. Main study parameters/endpoints: Primary outcome: live birth rate Secondary outcome: miscarriage rate, ongoing pregnancy rate, adverse events (including side effects and pregnancy complications), decidual immune cell level and direct costs. Trial design: Randomized double-blind, placebo controlled multi-center clinical trial. Follow up period ends 3 months after delivery (12 months after randomization). Trial population: Women with unexplained recurrent miscarriage, including at least 2 miscarriages, aged 18- 39 years are recruited in a new pregnancy with AD <7 weeks from 10 participating centers in the Netherlands (Coordinating center Leiden University Medical Centre, LUMC). Diagnosis unexplained recurrent miscarriages is based on latest ESHRE guideline. Intervention: After a complete diagnostic work-up, eligible women will be asked to collect a sample of menstrual blood. Patients are then randomized for prednisolone or placebo in a subsequent pregnancy. Women are randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to prednisolone tablets (20 mg daily for 6 weeks, 10 mg daily for 1 week, 5 mg daily for 1 week) or identical placebo tablets. The participants will then receive prenatal visits according to standard care with their own treating physician. All patients will be asked to fill in questionnaires at randomization, and 3, 6 and 12 months after randomization. In a subgroup of patients participating in the LUMC and Radboud MC, additional analyses will be performed, aimed at elucidating the effect of prednisolone on level of different immune cell populations in miscarriage tissue or placenta. Ethical considerations relating to the clinical trial including the expected benefit to the individual subject or group of patients represented by the trial subjects as well as the nature and extent of burden and risks: In the PREMI study the investigators will evaluate the effect of prednisolone on the live birth rate in patients with RM in a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. The risks and burden of participating in the trial are estimated as small. The risk of participation is the risk of prednisolone use; substantial evidence exists that prednisolone in this dosage and usage in first trimester is safe for mother and fetus. Patients may however experience barriers for participation in this study, due to the possible assignment to the placebo-arm (with a possible nil effect on pregnancy outcome), as well as potential side effects. Considering the latter, in a previous feasibility trial no side effects were severe enough for women to stop taking medication. Moreover, to establish the most valid results as possible, there is no other solid manner to answer this research question than by conducting a well-designed double blinded placebo-controlled RCT.

Official Title
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Prednisolone Administration in Patients With Unexplained REcurrent MIscarriages, PREMI Trial

Conditions
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Miscarriage, Recurrent Miscarriage, Recurrent Pregnancy Loss, Habitual Abortion, Fertility Disorders

Intervention / Treatment
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* Drug: Prednisolone
* Drug: Placebo


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: In order to be eligible to participate in this study, a subject must meet all of the following criteria: Unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss: defined as the loss of ≥2 pregnancies, without any known cause for RM (parental chromosomal abnormalities, uterine anomalies, acquired or hereditary thrombophilia, endocrine diseases (such as hypothyroidism or diabetes)). The miscarriages include: all consecutive or non-consecutive pregnancy losses before the 24th week of gestation verified by ultrasonography or uterine curettage and histology non-visualized pregnancies (including biochemical pregnancy losses and/or resolved and treated pregnancies of unknown location), verified by positive urine or serum hCG Ectopic and molar pregnancies are not included Age 18 - 39 years at randomization (likelihood of miscarriages due to chromosomal aberrations is higher when age > 39 years. Such miscarriages are unlikely to be pre-vented by prednisolone therapy) Conception confirmed by urinary pregnancy test, with estimated gestational age ≤ 7weeks Willing and able to give informed consent in English or Dutch (IC) Exclusion Criteria: A potential subject who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in this study: Any of the following diagnosis for the recurrent miscarriages Antiphospholipid syndrome (lupus anticoagulant and/ or anticardiolipin anti-bodies and/or beta-2 glycoprotein [IgG or IgM) Congenital uterine abnormalities (as assessed by 2D or 3d ultrasound, hys-terosonography, hysterosalpingogram or hysteroscopy) Abnormal parental karyotype Instable or exacerbation of auto-immune diseases such as diabetes, thyroid disease, inflammatory bowel diseases or SLE Inability to conceive within 1 year of recruitment Current treatment with systemic prednisolone or other immune suppressive medication (for any indication) Previous enrolment in the PREMI trial Enrolment in any other trial that studies the effectiveness of an intervention on RM Contraindications to prednisolone use: Known allergy for prednisolone Acute bacterial infection or parasite infection Active COVID infection Systemic sclerosis Ulcus ventriculi or ulcus duodeni in medical history Obesity with BMI >40 Some drugs are known to interact with Prednisolone, and thus women on the following drugs are not eligible to take part in the PREMI trial: Enzyme inducers, such as carbamazepine, fenobarbital, fenytoïne and ri-fampicine CYP3A inhibitors, such as Cobicistat or Ritonavir Cyclosporine Digoxin Vaccination (with inactivated virus or bacteria) during prednisolone use is possibly less effective

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 40 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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Female

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Quadruple


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Prednisolone<br>Prednisolone tablets (20 mg daily for 6 weeks, 10 mg daily for 1 week, 5 mg daily for 1 week) | Drug: Prednisolone<br>* Prednisolone tablets (20 mg daily for 6 weeks, 10 mg daily for 1 week, 5 mg daily for 1 week) or identical placebo tablets for 8 weeks<br>|
| Placebo Comparator: Placebo<br>Identical placebo tablets for 8 weeks | Drug: Placebo<br>* Placebo identical to prednisolone tablets<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Live birth rate | Birth of a living child beyond 24 weeks | Within 24 months after eligibility | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Ongoing pregnancy | Fetal heartbeat on ultrasound scan at 12 weeks | At +/- 12 weeks of pregnancy | 
| Congenital abnormalities | Number of children born with congenital deformity (such as cleft palate) | At or short after birth, within 24 months after eligibility | 
| Gestational age | Gestational age measured in weeks after conception until delivery | After birth, within 24 months after eligibility | 
| Survival at 28 days of neonatal life | Is newborn still alive 28 days after birth | 28 days postpartum | 
| Adverse events | Side effect of steroids (eg: insomnia, mood changes, indigestion) | From start intervention until stop intervention (maximum of 7 weeks) | 
| Pregnancy complications | Such as preeclampsia, pregnancy induced hypertension, HELLP and gestational diabetes | During pregnancy, maximum of 9 months | 
| Direct and indirect costs | Cost directly and undirectly related to intervention in comparrison to standard care | After intervention, after a maximum of 24 months | 
| Anxiety and depression | Anxiety and depression measured with questionnaire (HADS) | Measurement at start of pregnancy (randomisation), 3, 6 and 12 months after start | 
| Quality of life (Health state) | Quality of life measured through questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L) mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression. | Measurement at start of pregnancy (randomisation), 3, 6 and 12 months after start | 
| Birthweight | Measured in kilograms at time of birth | At birth, within 24 months after eligibility | 
| Productivity costs due to condition | Productivity loss and costs measured through questionnaire (iPCQ) | 6 and 12 months after randomisation | 
| Medical consumption | Medical consumptoin expressed in e.g. number of visits measured through questionnaire (iMCQ) | 6 and 12 months after randomisation | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Recurrent pregnancy loss, Recurrent miscarriage, prednisolone