RCT for Women With a Persisting Pregnancy of Unknown Location

NCT ID: NCT01800162

Last Updated: 2017-12-29

Study Results

Results available

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Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

TERMINATED

Clinical Phase

PHASE1/PHASE2

Total Enrollment

2 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2013-02-28

Study Completion Date

2013-12-31

Brief Summary

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This is a randomized controlled trial to compare three currently available management strategies for women with a persisting pregnancy of unknown location (PPUL), which makes them at-risk for ectopic pregnancy. We will recruit hemodynamically stable women with a confirmed PPUL to be randomized to one of three strategies: 1) Uterine evacuation followed by methotrexate (MTX) for some (those that have evidence of a non visualized ectopic pregnancy) 2) Empiric treatment with MTX for all, and 3) Expectant management. Randomization will be 2:2:1 into these three arms. After randomization, they will be followed and treated clinically as is indicated by the progression of their condition. Primary outcome measures: uneventful decline of hCG to 5 IU/mL. Secondary outcome measures: re-interventions, treatment complications, health-related quality of life, financial costs, future fertility, and patient's preferences.

Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Persistent Pregnancy of Unknown Location Ectopic Pregnancy

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Uterine evacuation, then MTX for some

Subjects will undergo a uterine evacuation. If hCG levels do not sufficiently decrease after the uterine evacuation, the subject will be treated with methotrexate. If hCG levels do sufficiently decrease after the uterine evacuation, no further treatment is required.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Methotrexate

Intervention Type DRUG

Two Dose Protocol: The patient will receive the first dose of MTX 50mg/m2 on treatment day 0. She will receive a second dose of MTX 50mg/m2 on treatment day 4 and a serum hCG level will be drawn. Subsequent doses of MTX will be administered based on hCG levels.

Uterine Evacuation

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Uterine evacuation or dilation and curettage. At the clinician's discretion, this can be performed using local anesthesia, sedation or general anesthesia and can use a manual or electrical evacuation.

Empiric treatment with MTX for all

Subjects will be treated with methotrexate, receiving one dose on day 0 and a subsequent dose on day 4. Additional doses will be administered as needed based on hCG levels.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Methotrexate

Intervention Type DRUG

Two Dose Protocol: The patient will receive the first dose of MTX 50mg/m2 on treatment day 0. She will receive a second dose of MTX 50mg/m2 on treatment day 4 and a serum hCG level will be drawn. Subsequent doses of MTX will be administered based on hCG levels.

Expectant Management

Subjects will have their PPUL expectantly managed using serum hCG monitoring.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Expectant Management

Intervention Type OTHER

Pregnancy will be expectantly managed using serum hcg monitoring.

Interventions

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Methotrexate

Two Dose Protocol: The patient will receive the first dose of MTX 50mg/m2 on treatment day 0. She will receive a second dose of MTX 50mg/m2 on treatment day 4 and a serum hCG level will be drawn. Subsequent doses of MTX will be administered based on hCG levels.

Intervention Type DRUG

Uterine Evacuation

Uterine evacuation or dilation and curettage. At the clinician's discretion, this can be performed using local anesthesia, sedation or general anesthesia and can use a manual or electrical evacuation.

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Expectant Management

Pregnancy will be expectantly managed using serum hcg monitoring.

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

1. Female with a persisting pregnancy of unknown location:

1. A pregnancy of unknown location is defined as a women with a positive pregnancy test but no definitive signs of pregnancy in the uterus or adnexa on ultrasound imaging (Ultrasound must be performed within 7 days prior to randomization)
2. Persistence of hCG is defined as 3 serial hCG values over 4-14 days or 2 serial hCG values over 7-14 days, showing less than 30% rise, or less than 30% fall between the first and last value. (This abnormal pattern of serial hCG confirms that the gestation is nonviable.)
2. Patient is hemodynamically stable, hemoglobin greater than 10 mg/dL,
3. Greater than or 18 years of age

Exclusion Criteria

1. Hemodynamically unstable in need of acute treatment
2. Most recent hCG greater than 5000 IU/mL
3. Patient obtaining care in relation to a recently completed pregnancy (delivery, spontaneous or elective abortion),
4. Diagnosis of gestational trophoblastic disease,
5. Subject unwilling or unable to comply with study procedures,
6. Presence of clinical contraindications for treatment with methotrexate (ACOG guidelines, Appendix B),
7. Prior medical or surgical management of this gestation.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

FEMALE

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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University of Pennsylvania

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

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Kurt T Barnhart, MD, MSCE

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Pennsylvania

Locations

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University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Site Status

Greenville Hospital System University Medical Center

Greenville, South Carolina, United States

Site Status

Countries

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Netherlands United States

Other Identifiers

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815013

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id