Anti-Angiogenic Preeclampsia Milieu Impairs Infant Lung and Vascular Development

The Effects of Maternal Preeclampsia on the Development of Pulmonary and Vascular Dysfunction in Infants

Pregnant mothers who develop high blood pressure and other vascular problems (preeclampsia) deliver babies with increased neonatal health problems, which include lung disease and vascular complications, later in life. Investigators will evaluate whether infants of mothers with preeclampsia have evidence for impaired development of the lungs and blood vessels.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Preeclampsia
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Diffusion Lung Capacity (DLCO), Vascular Challenge, Video Imaging, Specimen Collections

Detailed Description

The overall objective of this study is to determine whether the anti-angiogenic environment of preeclampsia results in pulmonary and vascular dysfunction in infants. Specifically, study investigators hypothesize that the anti- angiogenic environment of preeclampsia will impair pulmonary development and promote vascular dysfunction in infants. Furthermore, study investigators hypothesize that circulating progenitor cell (CPC) measurements in cord blood will correlate with infant pulmonary (Aim #1) and systemic vascular (Aim #2) function. Study investigators will determine whether the pro-angiogenic circulating progenitor cells (CPC) versus non-circulating progenitor cells ratio in cord blood of pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia predicts pulmonary diffusing capacity and systemic vascular dysfunction, as well as respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). This research represents an important translational study that extends observations made in pre-clinical animal models that have clearly established a critical relationship between angiogenesis and lung development. Preliminary data strongly suggest a relationship between pro-angiogenic circulating progenitor cells (CPCs), bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), and pulmonary diffusion in human infants. Investigators will evaluate whether circulating progenitor cells (CPC)s are a biomarker for developing bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), investigators will relate circulating progenitor cells (CPCs) to the underlying pathophysiology, as assessed by pulmonary function testing methods that we developed for this very difficult age group to evaluate. A positive finding in the study would provide the rationale for future translational studies evaluating the therapeutic potential of circulating progenitor cells (CPCs) to stimulate lung development of premature infants, as there are currently no known therapeutic interventions that minimize or prevent the development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). One of several approaches could be applied in the future to increase circulating progenitor cells (CPCs) in premature infants: 1) pharmacologic mobilization of pro-angiogenic cells from the bone marrow, 2) expansion of pro-angiogenic cells from an infant's cord blood for autologous infusion, and 3) transfusion of pooled pro-angiogenic cells from multiple donors.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 292

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Indiana
    • Indianapolis, Indiana, United States, 46202
      • Riley Hospital for Children

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 5 months and older (Child, Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Investigators are recruiting two groups of infants born at 26+0 weeks and greater. The first group are infant's born to mother's with preeclampsia and the second are infants born to mother's with a normotensive pregnancy.

Description

Group 1: Infants born to mothers with preeclampsia

Inclusion Criteria:

• Clinical diagnosis of preeclampsia per the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) Task Force on Hypertension in Pregnancy 2013 report
• Anticipated delivery at 26+0 weeks gestation or greater.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Infant is not viable
• Cardiopulmonary defects
• Chest wall abnormalities
• Genetic anomalies
• Maternal history of Diabetes Mellitus
• Multiple gestation

Group 2: Infants born to mothers with normotensive pregnancies

Inclusion Criteria

• Normotensive pregnancy
• Anticipated delivery at 26+0 weeks gestation or greater.

Exclusion Criteria

• Maternal history of gestational diabetes
• Multiple gestation
• Genetic anomalies
• Chest wall abnormalities
• Chronic or Gestational hypertension
• Cardiopulmonary defects
• Infant is not viable

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Group 1: Infants born to mothers with preeclampsia; Infants with expected delivery at 26+0 weeks gestation or greater .	Other: Diffusion Lung Capacity (DLCO), Vascular Challenge, Video Imaging, Specimen Collections
Group 2: Infants born to mothers with normotensive pregnancies; Infants with expected delivery at 26+0 weeks gestation or greater.	Other: Diffusion Lung Capacity (DLCO), Vascular Challenge, Video Imaging, Specimen Collections

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Infant lung development measured by diffusion lung capacity (DLCO)	by month 8

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Airway function measured by spirometry	by month 8

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Lung development measured by angiogenic growth factors: ratio of circulating progenitor cells to non circulating progenitor cells, vascular endothelial growth factor, and soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 found in cord blood.	by month 8
Systemic vascular function measured by angiogenic factors of the ratio of circulating progenitor cells to non progenitor cells, vascular endothelial growth factor, and soluble fms-like tyronsine kinase-1 found in cord blood.	by month 8
Systemic vascular function measured by a vascular challenge on capillary density.	by month 8
Systemic vascular function measured by blood pressure.	by month 8

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Indiana University
• Collaborators: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI); National Institutes of Health (NIH)
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Robert S Tepper, MD, PhD, Indiana University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): February 11, 2016
• Primary Completion (Actual): November 17, 2020
• Study Completion (Actual): November 17, 2020

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 10, 2015
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 23, 2015
• First Posted (Estimate): December 24, 2015

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): February 24, 2022
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 22, 2022
• Last Verified: February 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Infant; Premature; Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pregnancy Complications; Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced; Pre-Eclampsia
• Other Study ID Numbers: 1509123588; R01HL1222215 (Other Grant/Funding Number: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED