Reduced fetal Movements Intervention Trial
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN07944306 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN07944306 |
| Protocol serial number | 1.41 |
| Sponsor | Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UK) |
| Funders | Manchester Biomedical Research Centre (UK), Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UK) (ref: R01519) |
- Submission date
- 24/08/2011
- Registration date
- 12/09/2011
- Last edited
- 11/09/2015
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Pregnancy and Childbirth
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
Currently, 1 in 200 babies born after 24 weeks of pregnancy is stillborn. Despite improvements in pregnancy care, the rate of stillbirth is the same as 20 years ago. One reason is the lack of a test to identify which babies are most at risk of stillbirth. One symptom that mothers are commonly aware of before stillbirth is a reduction in their baby’s movements. We believe that a reduction in babies’ movements is a sign that they are receiving less nutrients and oxygen from their mother because the afterbirth (placenta) is working less well. The placenta in women who come to hospital with a reduction in baby’s movements is smaller, abnormally shaped and more damaged than those with normal movements. We believe that performing specialised tests on women who come to hospital because their baby’s movements have reduced could identify women whose babies are at most risk of stillbirth, allowing us to deliver them before they die. The aim of our study is to find out whether recommending delivery based on extra tests reduces the number of stillbirths and admissions to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), compared to the current standard practice. The extra tests are assessment of the baby’s size, the amount of water around the baby, the blood flow through the placenta and a blood test. By carrying out this initial study we will find out whether women will agree to participate in a study after coming to hospital with reduced baby movements and whether the tests and any associated treatment cause increased anxiety for mothers. We will also see whether the test results changed the way doctors and midwives cared for their patients. We will then be able to develop a larger study to see whether these tests can help prevent stillbirths.
Who can participate?
Women over 16 years of age who come to the maternity triage unit or maternity day unit at St Mary’s Hospital, Manchester with reduced baby movements between 36 weeks and 41 weeks 3 days of pregnancy.
What does the study involve?
Women are randomly allocated into one of two groups. In the current care group the women are checked by a midwife and if they meet certain criteria we perform an ultrasound scan for the baby’s size and the amount of water around the baby and the result is recorded. In the detailed assessment group the women have an ultrasound scan for the baby’s size, amount of water around the baby and blood flow through the placenta, appearance of the placenta and a blood test.
What are the potential benefits and risks of participating?
The additional tests might identify women at high risk of complications, allowing the baby to be delivered earlier. There are no known risks of having an extra scan or blood test in late pregnancy.
Where is the study run from?
St Mary’s Hospital, Manchester, UK.
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
November 2011 to November 2012.
Who is funding the study?
Manchester Biomedical Research Centre and Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UK).
Who is the main contact?
Dr Alexander Heazell
alexander.heazell@manchester.ac.uk
Contact information
Scientific
Maternal and Fetal Health Research Centre
5th Floor (Research)
St Mary's Hospital
Oxford Road
Manchester
M13 9WL
United Kingdom
Study information
| Primary study design | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Study design | Single-centre non-blinded randomised controlled trial |
| Secondary study design | Randomised controlled trial |
| Study type | Participant information sheet |
| Scientific title | A pilot randomised controlled trial to determine whether intensive investigation for women presenting with reduced fetal movements after 36 weeks gestation reduces the incidence of poor pregnancy outcome compared to standard management. |
| Study acronym | ReMIT |
| Study objectives | We hypothesise that intensive investigation of women with reduced fetal movements by ultrasound scan measurement of the baby's size, liquor volume, detailed assessment of the placenta and with measurement of the placental marker, human placental lactogen (hPL) will improve prediction of poor pregnancy outcome, and that recommendation of delivery based on these indices will reduce the incidence of poor pregnancy outcome. |
| Ethics approval(s) | United Kingdom National Research Ethics Service, NRES Committee North West - Greater Manchester Central Committee |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Stillbirth, Perinatal Death |
| Intervention | Intervention Group - intensive investigation specifically ultrasound assessment of estimated fetal weight, liquor volume, umbilical artery Doppler and measurement of human placental lactogen with recommendation to deliver the infant if any of these indices are abnormal. Control Group - standard treatment as outlined in the guidelines from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. |
| Intervention type | Other |
| Primary outcome measure(s) |
1. Proportion of women with poor pregnancy outcome |
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) |
1. Proportion of infants with a birthweight centile < 10 |
| Completion date | 01/11/2012 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Patient |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Sex | Female |
| Target sample size at registration | 120 |
| Key inclusion criteria | Women presenting with a subjective reduction in fetal movements between 36+0 and 41+3 weeks gestation with a viable singleton pregnancy on initial assessment. |
| Key exclusion criteria | 1. Fetus with a congenital anomaly 2. Multiple pregnancy 3. Fetus requiring immediate delivery for abnormal fetal heart rate trace 4. Maternal age <16 years 5. Women unable to give informed consent |
| Date of first enrolment | 01/11/2011 |
| Date of final enrolment | 01/11/2012 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- United Kingdom
- England
Study participating centre
M13 9WL
United Kingdom
Results and Publications
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | No |
|---|---|
| IPD sharing plan summary | Not provided at time of registration |
| IPD sharing plan |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Results article | results | 16/04/2013 | Yes | No | |
| Participant information sheet | Participant information sheet | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
