The Effects of Aspirin in Gestation and Reproduction (EAGeR)

December 9, 2016 updated by: Enrique Schisterman, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

The Effects of Aspirin in Gestation and Reproduction: A Multi-center, Controlled, Double-blind Randomized Trial.

The primary objective of the study is to help elucidate the effects of low-dose aspirin in combination with folic acid on the incidence of live births and spontaneous abortions among a group of women who become pregnant compared to a control group.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Despite the fundamental nature of reproduction, for many it is a process fraught with frustration, inefficiency and imperfections, the effects of which can be severe. Infertility affects 10-15% of couples attempting to conceive. Among all women who conceive, the incidence of spontaneous abortion (SA) has been estimated to be between 15 and 31%, and in many cases the cause is unknown. Additionally, of the four million births yearly in the United States, between 8 and 15% will be born prematurely and experience increased morbidity and mortality as a result. An intervention with even a small absolute effect on any of these outcomes has great implications at the population level due to the large potential attributable benefit.

One such potential intervention is low-dose acetylsalicylic-acid (aspirin). Aspirin has been a primary target of interest because of its anti-inflammatory, vasodilatory and platelet aggregation inhibition properties. To evaluate the effects of low-dose aspirin in combination with folic acid on the incidence of live births and spontaneous abortion, we are conducting a multi-site randomized controlled trial study with two sites and one data coordinating center. Women aged 18-40 currently trying to become pregnant and who have had a single spontaneous abortion in the past year will be eligible for the study. The recruitment goal is 1600 women. Participating women will be randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups. Those randomized to treatment will receive daily low-dose aspirin. Those randomized to placebo will receive daily placebo. Both groups will receive folic acid daily in accordance with recommendations from the U.S. Public Health Service for prevention of birth defects. The duration of treatment regimens (LDA and folic acid or placebo and folic acid) will be 6 menstrual cycles, with those who become pregnant continuing until the end of pregnancy. Monthly urine and blood samples will be collected and questionnaires administered.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

1228

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

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

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Colorado
      • Denver, Colorado, United States, 80045
        • University of Colorado, Denver School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
    • New York
      • Buffalo, New York, United States, 14260
        • Women's Health Research Center, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, University at Buffalo
    • Pennsylvania
      • Scranton, Pennsylvania, United States, 18510
        • Moses Taylor Hospital
    • Utah
      • Salt Lake City, Utah, United States, 84112
        • University of Utah Medical Center

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

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 40 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

Female

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Women experiencing one or two pregnancy losses at any point in gestation in the past that were not elective termination(s). At least one of these losses must be well documented by one of the following:

    • Sonogram demonstrating anembryonic loss, embryonic loss or fetal death.
    • Histologic confirmation of products of conception that were spontaneously passed per vagina or surgically obtained.
    • Hospital records of fetus delivery.
    • Late menses and positive serum hCG or positive urine hCG documented by hospital or clinic records followed by either a negative hospital/clinic pregnancy test or a decline in urinary hCG level over 3 days.
    • Home pregnancy tests without hCG confirmation from a healthcare provider (either serum or urine) will not be accepted.
  • No more than 5 pregnancies in total including the pregnancy loss(es).*

  • Up to two prior pregnancies that did not end in a loss.*

    *Women may have up to two pregnancies beyond 20 weeks that were not losses, two spontaneous pregnancy losses at any time in the past, and up to one therapeutic or elective termination (two therapeutic or elective terminations if no other pregnancies). Ectopic and molar pregnancies would, for the purpose of enrollment, be considered in the same category as therapeutic termination pregnancies. Women with more than two live births or those with more than two losses, regardless of the week of gestation of the loss, are excluded.

  • Presence of intact tubes (both), ovaries (both), and uterus.
  • Between 18 and 40 years of age at time of baseline visit.
  • Regular menstrual periods between 21 - 42 days in length (within the last 12 months). Regular menstrual periods are defined as no more than an 8-day difference between the woman's shortest and longest cycle.
  • No more than one missed menses in the past 12 months (other than those missed due to pregnancy or breastfeeding).
  • Actively trying to conceive with a male partner and not using contraception by the baseline visit.
  • Not currently pregnant at the baseline or randomization visits.
  • Ability and willingness to give informed consent.
  • Willingness to be randomized and to take daily study pills for 6 months to a possible 15 months

Exclusions Criteria:

  • Known allergies to aspirin or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents.
  • Clinical indication for anticoagulant therapy. These include prior or current thrombosis, antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) or known major thrombophilia.
  • Clinical indication for chronic use of NSAIDs such as rheumatoid arthritis.
  • Indication for additional folic acid supplementation, such as prior infant with neural tube defect (NTD), seizure disorder.
  • Medical contraindication to aspirin therapy. These include uncontrolled asthma, nasal polyps, bleeding disorders, or history of gastrointestinal ulcer.
  • Presence of major medical disorders (regardless of severity). These include diabetes, hypertension, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), untreated or active cancer (any cancer in remission or non-melanoma skin cancer is not included in the exclusion criteria), liver disease, renal disease, rheumatoid arthritis, cardiac disease, pulmonary disease other than mild asthma, neurologic disease requiring medical treatment, uncontrolled hypothyroidism, uncontrolled seizure disorder. Untreated vitamin B12 deficiency, severe anemia (Hct < 30%), hemophilia, gout, nasal polyps, among others.
  • Currently undergoing/planned use of assisted reproductive techniques during trial (IVF; IUI; Clomid).

  • History of infertility or sub-fertility. This includes any of the following:

    • No conception after ≥ 1 year of unprotected intercourse and actively trying to conceive.
    • Any prior medical treatment for infertility.
    • Prior treatment for known pelvic inflammatory disease.
    • Known male infertility or sperm abnormality (current partner).
    • Known tubal occlusion, anovulation, uterine abnormality, or endometriosis stage III or IV.
    • History of polycystic ovarian syndrome.
  • Presence of unstable mental disorder. These include bipolar illness, schizophrenia, uncontrolled depression, uncontrolled anxiety disorder.
  • Known current or recent alcohol abuse or illicit drug use.
  • Current diagnosis of sexually transmitted infection (STI) (temporary exclusion)

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: Quadruple

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Aspirin
81mg of low-dose aspirin plus 400micrograms of folic acid.
Drug: acetylsalicylic-acid (aspirin)
81mg of low-dose aspirin plus 400micrograms of folic acid.
Other Names:
  • aspirin
Placebo Comparator: Placebo
400micrograms of folic acid.
Dietary supplement: Folic acid
400micrograms of folic acid.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Live Birth
Time Frame: after delivery
Live birth was obtained prospectively by maternal report and abstraction from medical records by trained staff .
after delivery

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
hCG Recognized Pregnancy
Time Frame: within 8-weeks of gestation
within 8-weeks of gestation
Clinically Recognized Pregnancy
Time Frame: 8-weeks
8-weeks
Early Pregnancy Loss (EPL)
Time Frame: 8 weeks
Implantation failures
8 weeks
Pregnancy Losses Occurring Less Than 10 Weeks
Time Frame: less than 10-weeks
Includes preembryonic and embryonic losses (exclusive of implantation failures)
less than 10-weeks
Fetal Pregnancy Loss
Time Frame: until 40 weeks
until 40 weeks
Stillbirth
Time Frame: 40 weeks
40 weeks
Ectopic Pregnancy
Time Frame: within 6 weeks
within 6 weeks
Molar Pregnancy
Time Frame: 8 weeks
8 weeks
Preeclampsia
Time Frame: until delivery
until delivery
Small for Gestational Age Infant
Time Frame: until delivery
birthweight
until delivery
Preterm Birth
Time Frame: until delivery
until delivery
Abnormal Fetal Testing
Time Frame: 8 weeks
8 weeks
Fetal Intolerance of Labor
Time Frame: until delivery
until delivery
Abruption
Time Frame: until delivery
Partial or complete abruption (ie, premature separation of the placenta)
until delivery

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Enrique F Schisterman, PhD, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
  • Principal Investigator: Jean Wactawski-Wende, PhD, University at Buffalo
  • Principal Investigator: Robert Silver, MD, University of Utah
  • Principal Investigator: Noya Galai, PhD, University of Haifa
  • Principal Investigator: Janet Townsend, M.D., The Commonwealth Medical College
  • Principal Investigator: Anne Lynch, M.D., University of Colorado, Denver

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

Helpful Links

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

June 1, 2007

Primary Completion (Actual)

July 1, 2012

Study Completion (Actual)

July 1, 2012

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

April 27, 2007

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 27, 2007

First Posted (Estimate)

April 30, 2007

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

February 3, 2017

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

December 9, 2016

Last Verified

December 1, 2016

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • EAGeR

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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