Clinical Research Directory

Improving Maternal Cardiovascular Outcomes Through the Implementation of a Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy Bundle in Nigeria

The goal of this interventional study is to learn from patients and healthcare providers at 4 health institutions (study sites) in Abuja and Kano in Nigeria what ways to best develop the content of a Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy ( HDP) Management package for pregnant women, and evaluate the effectiveness of implementing this package in improving cardiovascular health of pregnant women. The main question it aims to answer is: Will a contextualized home BP monitoring program lead to better BP control among patients with HDP in Nigeria?

Progesterone Preeclampsia

This randomized controlled trial evaluates whether nightly vaginal micronized progesterone (400 mg) initiated before 12 weeks' gestation reduces the incidence of preeclampsia in low-risk pregnant individuals. Participants will be randomly assigned (1:1) to receive either vaginal progesterone through 16 weeks' gestation or routine prenatal care without progesterone. Maternal and neonatal outcomes-including development of preeclampsia, obstetric complications, gestational diabetes, preterm birth, and neonatal morbidity-will be collected via chart review. The study aims to determine whether early progesterone supplementation decreases the risk of preeclampsia.

Arm Position and Blood Pressure Measurement Accuracy During Pregnancy

Accurate blood pressure measurement is essential during pregnancy, as blood pressure readings guide clinical decisions related to the diagnosis and management of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Clinical guidelines recommend measuring blood pressure with the arm supported at heart level; however, in routine practice, blood pressure is often measured with the arm in non-standard positions. This study aims to evaluate how different arm positions affect blood pressure measurements in pregnant women. Pregnant women attending a high-risk pregnancy clinic will undergo blood pressure measurements with the arm placed in several commonly used positions, including supported at heart level, supported on the lap, and unsupported at the side. Each participant will have multiple measurements taken during a single clinic visit. The study is designed as a randomized crossover trial with stratification by trimester and chronic hypertension status, allowing each participant to serve as her own control. Participants will be enrolled across all three trimesters of pregnancy, and results will be analyzed separately for each trimester. The primary outcome is the difference in systolic and diastolic blood pressure measurements between arm positions. The findings of this study may help improve the accuracy of blood pressure measurement during pregnancy and inform clinical practice regarding optimal measurement techniques.

HOME: Home Monitoring of High-risk Pregnancies

High-risk pregnancies often require long-term hospitalization or outpatient maternal and/or fetal monitoring, placing a burden on patients, hospital resources and society. The demand for intensified pregnancy surveillance and interventions is increasing, due to the increased prevalence of risk factors like obesity and advanced maternal age, as well as altered guidelines resulting in increasing labor induction rates.The main aims of the HOME study (Home monitoring of pregnancies at risk) are to assess if home monitoring of selected high-risk pregnancies for maternal and fetal wellbeing is feasible, safe (in a clinical trial), cost-efficient, and simultaneously empowers the users.

MumCare: Mum's Cardiovascular Health for Life

The goal of this randomized clinical trial study is to test the potential benefits of eHealth-assisted follow-up after pregnancy complications that confer and increased risk for premature cardiovascular (CV) disease. The overarching aim is to improve short- and long-term CV health in women following pregnancy complications associated with increased risk of CV disease (hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and gestational diabetes). The investigators will develop and test a novel, personalized and user co-designed digital eHealth companion ("app") and test the app in a clinical randomized control trial. The group randomized to app use will get access to the app prior to delivery or within the first weeks postpartum, whereas the control group will not get access to the app, but receive ordinary follow-up. Both groups are invited to a comprehensive cardiovascular follow-up 14-18 months post delivery. The primary objective is to assess whether the rate of 1-year postpartum follow-up at the general practitioner's is increased with MumCare app access. Secondary objectives are to assess: 1. expectations of (and satisfaction with) postpartum eHealth-assisted technologies, 2. if health perception, sense of empowerment (self-management evaluation and general self-efficacy), modifiable risk factors for CV disease (including hypertension, dyslipidemia, blood sugar control, smoking, weight, physical activity), CV findings (including non-invasive hemodynamics) and biomarkers are affected by MumCare app use.

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.

Microbial Metabolites and Outcomes of Pregnancy Study

Emerging data connect diet, the gut microbiota and its metabolites in cardiometabolic disease. Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) are common and are a leading cause of maternal and neonatal morbidity. HDP likely share similar pathophysiology as cardiometabolic disease in non-pregnant people with a yet unrevealed role of diet and the gut microbiota, including systemic inflammation and endothelial dysfunction. Despite high biological plausibility that nutrition, the gut microbiota and its metabolites may play a role in health and disease in pregnancy, there is a paucity of data regarding these associations, thus limiting advancement of the field. Similar to the proposed pathogenesis for diet, gut microbiota and the microbial metabolite trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) in cardiovascular disease, we hypothesize that the interplay between maternal diet, the gut microbiota and its associated microbial metabolites play a mechanistic role in HDP. We propose to test this hypothesis in a racially-diverse US cohort to determine association with adverse pregnancy outcomes, specifically future development of HDP. We propose to prospectively collect plasma and urine TMAO throughout pregnancy from a cohort of 200 pregnant participants. Through 1) characterizing plasma and urine TMAO levels across each trimester of pregnancy, and 2) assessment of this microbial metabolite as a predictor of development of HDP, we have the potential to identify a biomarker that would allow us to identify people at risk of HDP early in pregnancy and provide new opportunities for therapeutic interventions to improve maternal and neonatal outcomes.

Multiparametric Assessment of Maternal Vascular Function in the Prediction of Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy

The present study is a single-centre prospective study that will enrol pregnant women during their first trimester of pregnancy (11+0 - 13+6 weeks of gestation). During pregnancy, women will undergo standard clinical evaluation and management. During the two study visits (enrollment and 24+0 - 27+6 weeks of gestation) the investigators will perform arterial tonometry (Pulsepen) and in vivo darkfield microscopy (Glycocheck) to evaluate endothelial and vascular function. A urine sample and a blood sample for specific study analyses on metabolic profile, endothelial and angiogenic markers will be collected. Pregnancy outcomes will be collected at delivery and five years after delivery all the participants will be interview to collect long-term cardiovascular outcomes. Serum endothelial and angiogenic markers will be evaluated only in participants who will develop hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and in an equal number of controls matched for age and body mass index at the time of conception.

HOPE-BP 2.0: Evaluating the Optimal Duration of Postpartum Remote Blood Pressure Monitoring

Postpartum remote blood pressure monitoring programs for patients with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) are becoming part of standard postpartum management. Existing programs range in duration from 2 to 6 weeks but there has not been any evaluation as to what program duration is optimal. The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of program duration on clinical outcomes for patients participating in a single institution's postpartum remote blood pressure monitoring program for patients with HDP.

A Prospective Longitudinal Observational Cohort Study of Pregnant Women Residing at High Altitude in Bolivia

In this study, the investigators will follow two small cohorts of pregnant women: a cohort of healthy women with uncomplicated pregnancies residing at high altitude, and a hospitalized cohort of symptomatic women with pregnancies complicated by obstetric conditions (e.g., preeclampsia), to characterize differences in cardiopulmonary adaptation and nitric oxide (NO) pathway expression at elevations \>3,500 m throughout pregnancy and into the postpartum period. The investigators aim to investigate right-sided cardiac impairment induced by chronic hypobaric hypoxemia, its effects on fetal growth, and the potential contribution of cardiovascular nitric oxide depletion to obstetric complications such as preeclampsia, pulmonary arterial hypertension, and right ventricular dysfunction.

Evaluation of Patients With Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy: An Ambispective Observational Study

The overall objective of this study is to evaluate the prognostic role of ultrasound and laboratory parameters, specifically their potential ability to predict severe forms of preeclampsia and adverse maternal-fetal outcomes. In particular, the aim of the present research is to obtain data on the prognostic value of ultrasonographic and biochemical parameters in patients with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.

The ACHIEVE Trial: Achieving Longer Gestation in Preeclampsia Via Antihypertensive Therapy.

The Achieve Trial is a randomized clinical trial to test whether lowering blood pressure to less than 140/90 mmHg in women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy will prolong pregnancy.

Mobile-based Obstetric Monitoring for Pregnancies Complicated by Hypertension and/or Diabetes (MOM-HD)

Hypertensive disorders during pregnancy (HDP) and gestational diabetes (GDM) are among the leading complications in pregnancy, significantly contributing to global maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. (1,2,3) Effective management of HDP and GDM hinges on regular monitoring of blood pressure (BP) and blood glucose (BG) to ensure adequate control and timely interventions for maternal and fetal well-being. Telemonitoring offers a promising and cost-effective alternative by enabling pregnant individuals to monitor BP and BG at home and share real-time results with healthcare providers, facilitating informed clinical decision-making and timely interventions. Here the investigators propose to conduct a Hybrid Type II Effectiveness-Implementation Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) to assess the effectiveness and evaluate the implementation of the MOM-HD (Mobile-based Obstetric Monitoring for Hypertension and/or Diabetes) program, a mobile app-based perinatal telemonitoring program, in real-world clinical settings in Nepal. To address the study aims, the investigators will recruit 864 women who are newly diagnosed with HDP and GDM from three metropolitan hospitals and randomly assign them to either (i) MOM-HD + standard care or (ii) standard care alone, from enrolment in pregnancy to 6 weeks postpartum. Primary and secondary clinical outcomes will be assessed at delivery, and at 6 weeks postpartum. The investigators hypothesize that compared to standard care, the use of MOM-HD in addition to standard care will result in lower systolic BP levels, lower incidence rate for the composite adverse perinatal outcome of either perinatal loss, neonatal intensive care unit admission, primary cesarean delivery or labor induction, and lower proportion of days with elevated systolic BP or BG readings between recruitment and 6 weeks postpartum. A convergent mixed-methods approach will be used to assess implementation and maintenance outcomes using the RE-AIM framework (4), and economic sustainability will be assessed by collecting primary cost data.

Cardiovascular Protection After Preeclampsia With Enalapril

The purpose of this study is to learn if postpartum women are willing to be randomized to different blood pressure medicines after delivery and how that affects blood pressure in women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.

Intensive Postpartum Antihypertensive Treatment

The long-term goal of our work is to evaluate the effect of intensive postpartum blood pressure control on maternal cardiovascular health, risk of chronic hypertension, and reversal of vascular dysfunction generated by hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, thus attenuating the lifelong trajectory of cardiovascular disease risk.

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.

Platelets in Pregnancy

This is a prospective observational cohort study of platelet phenotype in pregnant patients at high-risk for the development preeclampsia. Blood samples will be collected prior to the initiation of daily aspirin and again in the second trimester to evaluate for platelet changes during pregnancy in patient's as a result of aspirin use and their association with adverse perinatal outcomes.

PEPPI Study: Identification of Women at Risk for Placental Dysfunction

The main purpose of this study is to evaluate Fetal Medicine Foundation's pre-eclampsia risk calculator using maternal characteristics, first trimester serum placental growth factor (PlGF) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) in a Finnish general population. Condition or disease: pre-eclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction, polycystic ovary syndrome

Vitamin D Deficiency With Selected Vitamin D Receptor Gene Polymorphism in Gestational Hypertension

This study aim to look into the prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency among Malaysian pregnant women and its associated risk factors. Subsequently, vitamin D deficient women with and without gestational hypertension will be investigated for their genetic variation to look for the association of VDR genetic variation and hypertensive disorders in pregnancy.

Endothelial Dysfunction for Prognosis In Patients With preeClampSia

Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-specific hypertensive disorder and can progress rapidly to severe adverse outcomes affecting both the mother and the fetus. Endothelial and microcirculatory dysfunction mediate systemic preeclampsia-related organ dysfunctions. Changes in endothelial and vascular function in preeclampsia have been demonstrated through reduced flow-mediated vasodilation as a result of reduced availability of nitric oxide, which potentially persists up to several years postpartum. Hyperspectral imaging is a new innovative technology that allows to assess the peripheral microcirculation and perfusion non-invasively and contactless, but has never been evaluated in the context of preeclampsia before. This EPICS project (Endothelial dysfunction for Prognosis In patients with preeClampSia) is a prospective observational study and aims to investigate hyperspectral imaging as a new potential diagnostic and prognostic marker in preeclampsia.

Thriving Hearts: Healing-Centered, Integrated, Community Maternity Care

The overarching goal of Thriving Hearts is to implement a multi-level program through Local Health Departments (LHDs) that cultivates conditions for mothers and birthing people to not only survive pregnancy, but to thrive. Thriving Hearts is a collaboration among LHDs in ten North Carolina counties, designed to reduce incidence of Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy (HDP) and their complications through support and connection at the individual, healthcare provider, and community level. The investigators will conduct a pragmatic, stepped-wedge, cluster randomized study. Participating LHDs will begin in a usual care phase, and they will transition to Thriving Hearts in clusters in a randomly assigned sequence at 9-month intervals.

HyperAldosteronism in Pregnancy Predicted Impacts (H.A.P.P.I. Trial)

Primary hyperaldosteronism confers a higher risk of cardiovascular complications compared to essential hypertension. Preliminary data is controversial in regards of excessive maternal fetal and neonatal excessive risks in pregnancy. This study aims at establishing the prevalence of PHA in an population with a recent episode of hypertensive disorder of pregnancy (HDP). The goal is to determine if a universal screening for PHA after a HDP is worthed. The investigators also wish to evaluate the complication rate in pregnant women with PHA compared to women without PHA. This is a prospective cohort study where all eligible women will be screened for PHA after a HDP episode in the last pregnancy. We will then compare PHA women to non PHA women according to pregnancy complications.

Home Assessment of Blood Pressure in PregnancY

The goal of this observational study is to evaluate the feasibility and safety of a comprehensive home blood pressure telemonitoring (HBPT) program for pregnant people with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP). Participants will receive training on the use of a home BP telemonitor with tele-transmission function for the remainder of their pregnancy and 6 weeks postpartum. Participating obstetric internal medicine (OBIM) clinicians will monitor the transmitted values and adjust anti-hypertensive medications based on the home BP readings. Our primary goal is to describe the feasibility and safety of a comprehensive HBPT pilot program in British Columbia, Canada (BC). Secondary research questions will address: 1. What is the end-user acceptability of a comprehensive HBPT pilot program in BC? 2. What are the effects of a comprehensive HBPT pilot program on factors such as: 1\. Maternal and neonatal outcomes 2. Home blood pressure (BP) metrics 3. Process measures 4. Anti-hypertensive medications 5. Fidelity to interventions 6. Health Care utilization

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.