Clinical Research Directory

Vitamin D Supplementation Among Pregnant Women in Uganda for the Prevention of Hypertensive Disorders in Pregnancy, and Other Adverse Maternal and Foetal Outcomes

The goal of this randomised controlled trial is to investigate if vitamin D supplementation among pregnant women in Uganda prevents adverse maternal and foetal outcomes, with special emphasis on preeclampsia. The main question it aims to answer is if Vitamin D supplementation, administered as oral vitamin D₃ at a dose of 2,000 IU once daily, from the time of recruitment to the time of delivery, reduces the incidence of preeclampsia, eclampsia and HELLP syndrome in pregnant women attending ANC at St. Mary's Hospital, Lacor, such incidence being monitored up to six (6) weeks after delivery. Researchers will compare the effect of oral 2.000 IU vitamin D daily (intervention group) vs. oral placebo daily (control group) on the prevalence of adverse maternal and foetal outcomes.

Treatment With Aspirin After Preeclampsia: TAP Trial

The objective of this research project is to conduct a single-site pilot trial to assess the feasibility and effect of low-dose aspirin to augment vascular recovery in the immediate postpartum period after preeclampsia through two specific aims: 1) to pilot test the feasibility of conducting a randomized controlled trial of postpartum low dose aspirin vs. placebo, and 2) to assess the effect of postpartum aspirin on endothelial function and blood pressure. Our central hypothesis is that postpartum administration of low-dose aspirin following preeclampsia will be feasible, improve endothelial function, and lower BP at 6 months postpartum. Subjects will undergo 3 study visits involving BP measurements, blood draws, questionnaires, and/or microiontophoresis. Up to 60 adult subjects will be enrolled at Magee-Women's Hospital.

Eliminating Severe Maternal Morbidity With Heart Health Doulas Trial

This is a single site, single-blinded parallel randomized control trial that investigates a multi-level intervention to improve postpartum blood pressure in women with hypertensive disorder pregnancy. The investigators will recruit women diagnosed with a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy, identified between 3rd trimester and 2 weeks post-delivery. The investigators will randomize participants to receive usual care home blood pressure monitoring for 6 weeks versus an intervention of usual care + blood pressure and weight monitoring + a doula trained in heart health. This trial will be conducted in partnership with a local community-based organization, Healthy Start Inc.

Pilot Project Renal and Cardiovascular Tertiary Prevention in Preeclampsia

Tertiary prevention program for women with preeclampsia, HELLP syndrome, kidney disease and pregnancy or associated conditions, including founding of a biobank. (Observational study since no interference with regular path of treatment suggested in national and international guidelines)

Mobile Health Interventions to Prevent Heart Disease After Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy

The purpose of this research is to study digital health interventions to prevent cardiovascular disease in individuals who have had a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy (HDP).

Point-of-care Ultrasound Abnormalities in Eclampsia

Preeclampsia (PE) and eclampsia remain leading causes of maternal morbidity and mortality, in both high-, low-and-middle-income countries. Preeclampsia is a complex, multisystem disease which, in its severe form, affects the cardiovascular, renal, hepatic, neurological and haematological systems. Given the complexity of the disease, anaesthesia management for caesarean section in these patients remains challenging. Preeclampsia may be complicated by the development of eclampsia, which involves one or more seizures, which complicates anaesthesia and obstetrics management, and requires. urgent admission and delivery. Recent studies have demonstrated novel markers of severity of PE, including point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS), acid-base changes secondary to low serum albumin, and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP). POCUS is playing an increasing role in perioperative diagnosis, and newer, less expensive devices are continuously being developed. These will in all likelihood play an important role in South Africa in the near future. In a recent trial performed at the University of Cape Town, a comprehensive acid-base analysis in women with PE with severe features demonstrated significant abnormalities in independent acid-base determinants. In addition, strong indications were found that changes in acid-base status following a decrease in serum albumin are more pronounced in early onset PE and may be associated with urgent delivery. In other clinical arenas in critically ill patients, low serum albumin is associated with increased lung water, increased intracranial pressure, and outcome. The research team hypothesised that similar associations might be found in women with late onset preeclampsia with severe features. Using POCUS, it was found that there was no association between serum albumin level and PIS or optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD). PIS was however associated with cardiac dysfunction, as was BNP.

The Preeclampsia Registry

The purpose of The Preeclampsia Registry is to collect and store medical and other information from women who have been medically diagnosed with preeclampsia or a related hypertensive (high blood pressure) disorder of pregnancy such as eclampsia or HELLP syndrome, their family members, and women who have not had preeclampsia to serve as controls. Information from participants will be used for medical research to try to understand why preeclampsia occurs, how to predict it better, and to develop experimental clinical trials of new treatments. The Registry will consist of a web-based survey and mechanism for collecting and reviewing medical records. This data will be utilized for immediate investigator-driven cross-sectional research projects (after proposal review by the Registry's scientific advisory board and as directed by the PI). Participants may also choose to be contacted regarding possible participation in future studies, about providing a biospecimen, as well as investigator-driven clinical trials. The Registry is anticipated to exist long-term and to serve as a foundation of participants from which to draw for studies of preeclampsia, anticipated to evolve as our scientific understanding of preeclampsia evolves.