Carbetocin Myocardium Trial 2014 Part 2 (CMT2014/2)

January 27, 2026 updated by: Leiv Arne Rosseland, Oslo University Hospital

The Clinical Carbetocin Myocardium Trial Part 2

Carbetocin has been in clinical use in EU for some years and the efficacy is documented in several RCTs. Circulatory adverse events leading to death has been reported after intravenous injection of oxytocin. Some studies indicate that oxytocin may lead to dose dependent ischemic ECG changes, prolongation of QT time and liberation of biomarkers of myocardial cell death. Previously the investigators have demonstrated comparable vasodilatory effects of oxytocin and carbetocin. There is no clinical study comparing the specific myocardial effects of oxytocin with carbetocin. It may have great impact on the choice of standard medication if the cardiotoxicity of carbetocin is lower compared with oxytocin. The study of potential cardiotoxicity has to be performed in healthy women. Knowing that millions of laboring women have had uneventful injections of oxytocin and carbetocin after delivery, there is probably no reason to fear long lasting negative effects of either drug. If there are differences in cardiotoxicity, this new information should be taken into consideration when planning delivery in pregnant women with heart disease.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Background -Treatment Caesarean delivery is a commonly performed surgical procedure. Uterus contraction after delivery of the baby is necessary to avoid excessive bleeding.

Background - Therapeutic Information Adequate uterus contraction after delivery of the baby is necessary to avoid excessive bleeding. Prophylactic administration of an oxytocin receptor agonist is first line practice. Intravenous injection of oxytocin has been the standard procedure but serious cardiovascular adverse events have been reported. Lowering the dose or administering the drug as a 5 minute infusion may increase safety. Carbetocin, a synthetic oxytocin receptor agonist, has significantly longer half life and may reduce blood loss compared with oxytocin. The hemodynamic vasodilatory effects are comparable to oxytocin, but potential differences in adverse effects on myocardium are not well described yet.

Pre-Clinical & Clinical Experience with Carbetocin (IMP) and Oxytocin Carbetocin has been in clinical use in EU for some years and the efficacy is documented in several RCTs. In the proposed study, carbetocin will be used within the conditions of the marketing authorization. Oxytocin is the first line treatment and prophylaxis in Norway and most countries in the world. According to recently published guidelines from EU drug authorities (EMA), oxytocin should be given as a slow, 5-minute infusion in order to avoid hypotension. This has so far not been implemented in Norway. The pre-clinical and clinical experience of the two drugs are summarized in the Summaries of Product Characteristics.

Rationale for the Study Pregnancy and delivery is a natural process, but for many women this period is stressful and not without risks of morbidity, and even mortality. Circulatory adverse events leading to death has been reported after intravenous injection of oxytocin. Some studies indicate that oxytocin may lead to dose dependent ischemic ECG changes, prolongation of QT time and liberation of biomarkers of myocardial cell death. Previously the investigators have demonstrated comparable vasodilatory effects of oxytocin and carbetocin. There is no clinical study comparing the specific myocardial effects of oxytocin with carbetocin. It may have great impact on the choice of standard medication if the cardiotoxicity of carbetocin is lower compared with oxytocin. The study of potential cardiotoxicity has to be performed in healthy women. Knowing that millions of laboring women have had uneventful injections of oxytocin and carbetocin after delivery, there is probably no reason to fear long lasting negative effects of either drug. If there are differences in cardiotoxicity, this new information should be taken into consideration when planning delivery in pregnant women with heart disease.

STUDY OBJECTIVES The aims of this study are to compare 0h (before C-section) plasma concentrations of Troponin I (high sensitive methods) with a second measurement of plasma concentration of Troponin I drawn within an interval of 6 to 10 hours after administration of study drug, in elective healthy C-section patients randomized to oxytocin 2.5 U or carbetocin 100 µg, 1 minute injection immediately after delivery.

Primary Endpoint Primary outcome measure is the difference in plasma concentration of Troponin I from baseline (0h) to the second measurement 6-10 hours after test drug administration, according to treatment allocation. Plasma concentrations will be collected before C-section, and at an interval of 6-10 h after test drug administration.

Secondary Endpoints

  • Other myocardial biomarkers
  • Uterus tone evaluated repeatedly
  • Blood loss (estimated calculated blood loss)
  • Postoperative pain and side effects.
  • BP, heart rate and ECG changes

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

240

Phase

  • Phase 4

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

      • Lørenskog, Norway
        • Akershus University Hospital
      • Oslo, Norway, 0027
        • Division of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, Oslo University Hospital - Rikshospitalet

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 50 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Healthy pregnant women age 18 to 50
  2. Singleton pregnancy at gestational age 36 weeks or more
  3. Able to read and understand Norwegian.
  4. Patients will be recruited from the general population at the birth clinic at Oslo University Hospital or the birth clinic of Akershus University Hospital. Signed informed consent form (ICF) and expected cooperation of the patients for the treatment and follow up will be obtained and documented according to ICH GCP, and national/local regulations.

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Patients with placenta pathology such as praevia, accreta, pre-eclampsia
  2. Patients with bleeding disorders including vonWillebrand disease type I.
  3. Known intolerance to one of the two drugs.
  4. Patients with prolonged QT-time or other serious cardiac diseases.
  5. Liver or kidney failure.
  6. Epilepsy.
  7. Any medical reason why, in the opinion of the investigator, the patient should not participate.

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: Prevention
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Quadruple

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Oxytocin
Oxytocin 2.5 U i.v.
Oxytocin 2.5 U i.v.
Experimental: Carbetocin
Carbetocin 100 µg i.v.
Carbetocin 100 µg i.v.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Plasma Concentration Troponin I
Time Frame: 8 hours
Group difference in plasma concentration of Troponin I
8 hours

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Blood Loss
Time Frame: 10 hours
Blood loss estimated by hemoglobin
10 hours
Uterine Tone Grade
Time Frame: 5 min
Peroperative assessment of uterine tone grade 0-10 where 0 is no tonus, 10 is maximal tonus
5 min
Side Effects
Time Frame: 10 min
Perioperative side effects, such as palpitations
10 min

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Investigators

  • Study Director: Kristin Sem-Thagaard, MD, Oslo Universitetssykehus

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.

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)

April 2, 2019

Primary Completion (Actual)

March 1, 2022

Study Completion (Actual)

April 15, 2022

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

January 30, 2019

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 1, 2019

First Posted (Actual)

April 2, 2019

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

February 10, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 27, 2026

Last Verified

January 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

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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