LMWH for Treatment of Early Fetal Growth Restriction (HepaGrowth) (HepaGrowth)

August 7, 2025 updated by: Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Central

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

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.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Enrolling by invitation

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

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.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
12

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Phase 3

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • Portugal
      • Lisboa, Portugal, 1050-170
        • Centro de Diagnóstico Pré-Natal, Maternidade Dr. Alfredo da Costa, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Lisboa Central

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. being 18 years old or older
  2. being able to provide consent
  3. 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:

  1. multiple gestation;
  2. diagnosed fetal chromosomal abnormalities;
  3. associated fetal morphological malformations;
  4. evidence of fetal infection (serological or after invasive testing);
  5. 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
  6. present use of systemic salicylates in anti-inflammatory dosage (> 150mg/day) or NSAIDs (including ketorolac)
  7. maternal history of allergy to LMWH or non-fractionated heparin (NFH);
  8. hypersensitivity to pork products;
  9. maternal history of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia;
  10. maternal thrombocytopenia (platelets < 100 000);
  11. history of maternal hemophilia or Von Willebrand disease
  12. presence of placental hematoma;
  13. maternal diabetic retinopathy;
  14. bacterial endocarditis;
  15. 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;
  16. persistent blood pressure > 160/100 mmHg, despite optimal anti-hypertensive regimen;
  17. history of severe renal disease (eGFR <30mL/min);
  18. known or suspected hepatic impairment;
  19. current participation in another clinical trial;
  20. patients that are not part of the national health system (SNS);
  21. delivery already scheduled, or predicted in the next 7 days.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Intervention group, enoxaparin
Enoxaparin subcutaneous injections
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 Names:
  • experimental
Other: Standard of care
Obsteric standard of care
Other: standard of care
Obsteric standard of care.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Gestational age at delivery
Time Frame: day of delivery
Best assessment of the time of gestation, either by first trimester sonography, last menstrual day or day of implantation of in vitro conception product
day of delivery

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Maternal and fetal Doppler parameters
Time Frame: from randomization to delivery
Pulsatility index (PI) of the uterine arteries, PI anddiastolic flow in the umbilical artery, PI in the middle cerebral artery, cerebro-placental ratio, ductusvenosus PI and a wave
from randomization to delivery
Placental pathology
Time Frame: day of delivery
Percentage of placenta occupied by fibrosis or infarcts
day of delivery
Sflt1-PLGF ratio
Time Frame: from randomization to delivery
Evolution of Sflt1-PLGF ratio from diagnosis of FGR to delivery
from randomization to delivery
Syncytiotrophoblast membrane extracellular vesicles (STB-EV)
Time Frame: from randomization up to 1 week after delivery
Protein and genetic composition
from randomization up to 1 week after delivery
Neonatal birtweight and birthweight centile
Time Frame: day of delivery
Weight at birth of the newborn (in grams) and respective percentile
day of delivery
Newborn Apgar Score in the 5th minute
Time Frame: day of delivery
Newborn Apgar score in the 5th minute, assessed by a nurse or pediatrician
day of delivery
Newborn Umbilical Artery pH
Time Frame: day of delivery
pH of the umbilical artery, assessed immediately after delivery
day of delivery
Stillbirth, neonatal intensive care admission and duration of admission
Time Frame: from randomization up to 1 year after delivery
A composite outcome of severe neonatal morbidity (evidence of one or more of: intraventricular hemorrhage grade 3 or 4; cystic periventricular leukomalacia; chronic lung disease; retinopathy of prematurity requiring treatment; necrotizingenterocolitis requiring surgery
from randomization up to 1 year after delivery
Gestational hypertension or preeclampsia; placental abruption
Time Frame: from randomization up to 1 week after delivery
Pregnancy induced hypertension, preeclamspia,HELLP syndrome
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
Hemorrhage, bruising,pain
from randomization up to 1 week after delivery
Mode and indication for delivery
Time Frame: from randomization up to 48h after delivery
As spontaneous vaginal birth, operative vaginal birth (forceps orvacuum/ventouse), or cesarean section. For induced labor or planned cesarean section, theindication for scheduling the delivery will be documented (e.g., gestational age, maternal or fetalindications). In cases of operative vaginal or cesarean delivery, the indication for intervention willbe specified (e.g., non-reassuring fetal status, labor dystocia).
from randomization up to 48h after delivery

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Central

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
NOVA Medical School

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Study Chair: Fátima Serrano, MD, PhD, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Lisboa Central
  • Principal Investigator: Catarina Palma-dos-Reis, MD, MSc, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Lisboa Central

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
July 18, 2022

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
July 30, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
December 30, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
February 17, 2021

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
February 17, 2021

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
February 21, 2021

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
August 13, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
August 7, 2025

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
March 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • CHULC.CI.452.2018

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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