Screening for Preeclampsia in Norway With Aspirin Discontinuation at 24-28 Weeks (PEScreenNor)

Implementing Screening for Preeclampsia in Norway With Aspirin Discontinuation at 24-28 Weeks - a Randomized Controlled Trial

Study population Around 3500 pregnant women attending a routine ultrasound scan at 11-14 weeks at St. Olavs hospital, Trondheim, Norway.

Study period Dec 2023 - Jul 2025

Screening Patient history, blood pressure, uterine artery mean PI and PlGF will be plotted in the FMF algorithm for screening for preeclampsia in the first trimester. Standardized blood pressure will be measured by trained personnel. Ultrasound scans will be performed by FMF certified doctors and midwives working at the Center for Fetal Medicine in Trondheim. Placenta growth factor (PLGF) will be analyzed with Kryptor technology at Center for Laboratory Medicine, St. Olavs hospital.

Prophylaxis Women with high risk for preterm preeclampsia (risk > 1:100) will be offered aspirin prophylaxis 150 mg x 1 from 11-14 weeks to 36 weeks. Women will be offered to participate in a randomized controlled trial (RCT).

Study design and participants in the RCT A single center, open label, randomized, noninferiority trial conducted at St. Olavs hospital, Trondheim Norway from Dec 2023 to Jul 2025. The investigators will include around 300 women 18 years or older with a singleton live fetus, gestational age between 24 and 28 weeks, high risk of preterm preeclampsia (>1/100) in the first trimester screening, aspirin treatment with a dose 150 mg per day initiated at 16+6 weeks of gestation or less until randomization with a adherence of at least 50% and low SFlt-1/PlGF ratio (Kryptor technology with cut-off 66).

Randomization and masking Between 24 and 28 weeks of gestation, participants will be randomly designed, with a computer-based system in a 1:1 ratio, to continue aspirin (control group) or discontinue aspirin (intervention group). This is an open-label study without masking of patients or providers.

Follow-up Both groups will have visits every 4 weeks between randomization and 36 weeks, and standard antenatal care after 37 weeks until delivery. Treatment adherence will be assessed by patient self-report and tablet count, and fetal growth and Doppler will be assessed at the scheduled visits between randomization and 36 weeks (at 24, 28, 32 and 36 weeks), and according to clinical judgement by obstetricians at the outpatient clinic of the hospital. Women will have a telephone/video link follow-up 1-2 months after birth

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Pre-Eclampsia
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Aspirin

Detailed Description

The implementation study is divided into four parts/study questions

1. Is screening for preeclampsia cost-effective in a Norwegian setting?

   Folkehelseinstituttet (FHI) in Norway has done a health technology assessment including a cost-effectiveness analysis of introducing screening for preeclampsia at 11-14 weeks in Norway. FHI concluded that 173 cases of preterm preeclampsia could be prevented annually in Norway, and that 17 MNOK could be saved every year. Calculations were based on data from the Norwegian Medical Birth Registry. In this analysis the estimated extra time for measuring the mean uterine artery PI and calculating individual risk was set to 15 min, and costs for analyzing blood samples were set to 600 NOK per woman.

   The present study will assess if the estimated prerequisites in the FHI cost-effectiveness analysis are correct in a clinical setting. The investigators will register time during ultrasound scans and time used for calculating risks and informing patients. Costs for laboratory analyses will be studied. A new cost-effectiveness analysis will be performed if the prerequisites in the previous analysis are far from the ones collected from a clinical setting.

2. Is the blood pressure measured at the general practioner's (GP's) office equivalent to standardized measured BP at the hospital?

   Norwegian women are offered a visit at the GP's office around pregnancy week 8-12. At this visit women are given general information, BP is measured, and blood samples are drawn.

   Most women bring their antenatal chart with information on background, BP and blood samples when the women attend a routine ultrasound scan at 11-14 weeks. The investigators will measure BP at the hospital in a standardized way and compare BPs from the hospital recordings with the antenatal chart. The investigators will study time used for measuring BP in a standardized way at the hospital. If information from the antenatal chart can be used instead of collecting this information again at the hospital visit, the scheduled time can be shortened.

3. Compliance of aspirin use during pregnancy in Norway

   It has been shown that the beneficial effect of aspirin prophylaxis is dependent on compliance. The Aspre trial found a beneficial effect of screening among women using >90% of the prescribed medication.

   The investigators will study compliance among Norwegian women. The investigators estimate that around 300 women will be screen positive and offered aspirin prophylaxis during pregnancy. Women will be asked about aspirin use in pregnancy and tablets will be counted. Women will be stratified according to compliance groups; good (> 90%), intermediate (50-89%) or poor (< 50%) and compared for outcomes of the study.

4. Aspirin discontinuation at 24-28 weeks - a randomized controlled trial

One randomized controlled trial on aspirin discontinuation at 24 to 28 weeks' gestation in pregnancies at high risk of preterm preeclampsia has recently been published. The study included 936 participants and found an incidence of preterm preeclampsia of 1,48% in the intervention group and 1,73% in the control group (absolute difference, -0,25%; 95% CI -1.86% to 1.36) indicating noninferiority to aspirin continuation. The authors stated: "Aspirin treatment should be restricted to pregnant individuals at actual high risk of preeclampsia and administered during the shortest possible time". Furthermore: "given the low incidence of complications of different doses and durations of treatment should be investigated in further studies".

The investigators will do a similar randomized controlled trial. This study will not be sufficiently powered to demonstrate significant differences in preterm preeclampsia between groups (primary outcome), but it may contribute to a pool of similar trials, and can be included in future systematic reviews.

Study design and participants A single center, open label, randomized, noninferiority trial conducted at St. Olavs hospital, Trondheim Norway from Dec 2023 to Jul 2025 will include around 300 women 18 years or older with a singleton live fetus, gestational age between 24 and 28 weeks, high risk of preterm preeclampsia (>1/100) in the first trimester screening, aspirin treatment with a dose 150 mg per day initiated at 16+6 weeks of gestation or less until randomization with a adherence of at least 50% and low SFlt-1/PlGF ratio (Kryptor technology with cut-off 66).

Randomization and masking Between 24 and 28 weeks of gestation, participants will be randomly designed, with a computer-based system in a 1:1 ratio, to continue aspirin (control group) or discontinue aspirin (intervention group). This is an open-label study without masking of patients or providers.

Follow-up Both groups will have visits every 4 weeks between randomization and 36 weeks, and standard antenatal care after 37 weeks until delivery. Treatment adherence will be assessed by patient self-report and tablet count, and fetal growth and Doppler will be assessed at the scheduled visits between randomization and 36 weeks (at 24, 28, 32 and 36 weeks), and according to clinical judgement by obstetricians at the outpatient clinic of the hospital. Women will have a telephone/video link follow-up 1-2 months after birth.

Outcomes Primary outcome is delivery due to preeclampsia before 37 weeks of gestation (preterm preeclampsia).

Secondary outcomes include preeclampsia before 34 weeks of gestation, preeclampsia after 37 weeks of gestation or any other adverse pregnancy outcome, such as severe gestational hypertension, small for gestational age (10th centile or 3rd centile), stillbirth, placental abruption, spontaneous preterm delivery without preeclampsia or gestational hypertension, postpartum hemorrhage, antenatal bleeding, and poor neonatal outcomes.

Ethics A written informed consent will be obtained from all participants. The Regional Committee for Medical and Health Research Ethics in Central Norway (REK-midt) approved the study (REK-midt 639348 and REK - midt 634179).

The study will be registered in Clinicaltrials.gov (639348)

Funding and sponsors The study is funded by Helse-Midt Norge RHF. The funding source has played no role in design of the study and will have no role in data collection, analyses, interpretation or publication.

Participants Kjell Å. B. Salvesen, professor, MD, Phd, Project leader Hanne Mørch, consultant, MD, Phd candidate Ingrid Alsos Lian, consultant, MD, Phd Christian Tappert, consultant, MD

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 300
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Kjell Å Salvesen, Professor; Phone Number: +47 41240404; Email: pepes@ntnu.no
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Hanne Mørch, MD; Phone Number: +47 99229668; Email: hanne.morch@stolav.no

Study Locations

• Norway
  • Trondheim, Norway
    • Recruiting
    • St. Olavs Hospital
    • Contact: Kjell Å Salvesen, Professor
    • Contact: Hanne Mørch

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria

• 18 years or older
• singleton live fetus with gestational age between 24 and 28 weeks
• woman with high risk of preterm preeclampsia (>1/100) in the first trimester screening
• aspirin treatment with a dose 150 mg per day initiated at 16+6 weeks of gestation or less until randomization with adherence of at least 50%
• low SFlt-1/PlGF ratio (Kryptor technology with cut-off 66) measured at 24-28 weeks

Exclusion Criteria

• not speaking Norwegian or English language
• fetal anomalies diagnosed with ultrasound
• informed consent for participation in the trial

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Aspirin; Aspirin 150 mg per day from pregnancy week 12 to 36 - according to current recommendations	Drug: Aspirin; Aspirin discontinuation; Other Names: acetyl salicylic acid
Experimental: Aspirin discontinuation; Discontinuation of Aspirin around 24-28 weeks in low risk women	Drug: Aspirin; Aspirin discontinuation; Other Names: acetyl salicylic acid

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Number of patients with preterm preeclampsia	Delivery due to preeclampsia before 37 weeks of gestation	Pregnancy week 24 to pregnancy week 37

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Number of patients with preeclampsia before 34 weeks	Delivery due to preeclampsia before 34 weeks of gestation	Pregnancy week 24 to pregnancy week 34
Number of patients with preeclampsia after 37 weeks	Delivery with the diagnosis preeclampsia after 37 weeks	Pregnancy week 24 to pregnancy week 42
Number of patients developing severe gestational hypertension	Delivery with the diagnosis of severe gestational hypertension	Pregnancy week 24 to pregnancy week 42
Number of patients diagnosed as small for gestational age (10th centile)	Birthweight defined as SGA below 10th centile	Birthweight at delivery between 24 and 42 weeks
Number of patients diagnosed as small for gestational age (3rd centile)	Birthweight defined as SGA below 3rd centile	Birthweight at delivery between 24 and 42 weeks
Number of patients diagnosed with placental abruption	Diagnosis of placental abruption at delivery- no/yes	Delivery between 24 and 42 weeks
Number of patients with spontaneous preterm delivery	spontaneous preterm delivery without preeclampsia or gestational hypertension	Delivery between 24 and 42 weeks
Number of patients with mild post partum hemorrhage	Post partum hemorrhage > 500 ml	Delivery between 24 and 42 weeks
Number of patients with severe post partum hemorrhage	Post partum hemorrhage > 1000 ml	Delivery between 24 and 42 weeks
Number of patients with antenatal bleeding	No/yes	Pregnancy week 24 to pregnancy week 42
Days of antenatal bleeding	Days of bleeding	Pregnancy week 24 to pregnancy week 42
Severity of of antenatal bleeding	Maternal hemoglobin measured before delivery	Pregnancy week 24 to pregnancy week 42

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: St. Olavs Hospital
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Kjell Å Salvesen, Professor, St. Olavs Hospital

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Mendoza M, Bonacina E, Garcia-Manau P, Lopez M, Caamina S, Vives A, Lopez-Quesada E, Ricart M, Maroto A, de Mingo L, Pintado E, Ferrer-Costa R, Martin L, Rodriguez-Zurita A, Garcia E, Pallarols M, Vidal-Sagnier L, Teixidor M, Orizales-Lago C, Perez-Gomez A, Ocana V, Puerto L, Millan P, Alsius M, Diaz S, Maiz N, Carreras E, Suy A. Aspirin Discontinuation at 24 to 28 Weeks' Gestation in Pregnancies at High Risk of Preterm Preeclampsia: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. 2023 Feb 21;329(7):542-550. doi: 10.1001/jama.2023.0691.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): January 1, 2024
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): June 1, 2027

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 17, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 25, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): October 31, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimated): June 5, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 4, 2025
• Last Verified: June 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Urogenital Diseases; Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications; Pregnancy Complications; Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced; Eclampsia; Pre-Eclampsia; Anti-Infective Agents; Antifungal Agents; Physiological Effects of Drugs; Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Peripheral Nervous System Agents; Enzyme Inhibitors; Fibrin Modulating Agents; Antirheumatic Agents; Dermatologic Agents; Sensory System Agents; Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; Analgesics; Antipyretics; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; Fibrinolytic Agents; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; Keratolytic Agents; Aspirin; Salicylic Acid; Salicylates
• Other Study ID Numbers: 639348

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: YES
• IPD Plan Description: Data will be available for individual participant data meta-analysis
• IPD Sharing Time Frame: After completion of the study in Dec 2025
• IPD Sharing Access Criteria: Contact the principal investigator
• IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type: STUDY_PROTOCOL; SAP; CSR

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No