Does use of a new pre-eclampsia screening test reduce pre-eclampsia and preterm birth in the NHS?
This study, called STARshiP, is researching a new way to check for pre-eclampsia, a serious condition that can happen in pregnancy causing high blood pressure and affecting the baby's growth. Currently, an NHS test identifies those at risk, but this study compares it to a new test from the Fetal Medicine Foundation (FMF). Researchers believe the new FMF test might be better at finding people at risk of the more severe forms of pre-eclampsia. The main goal is to see if using this new test can reduce pre-eclampsia and the number of babies born too early. Hospitals across England will take part, switching from the current test to the new one at different times to see which one works best. If you're pregnant and receiving care at a participating hospital, you might be offered the new screening.
At a glance
What is this study about?
Pre-eclampsia is a condition that can develop during the second half of pregnancy, usually from 20 weeks onwards. It causes high blood pressure and can put a strain on important organs like the kidneys and liver. It can also affect your baby, sometimes causing them to be smaller than expected or affecting how their placenta works. Because there's no cure for pre-eclampsia, if it develops, doctors sometimes need to deliver the baby early, which is called a 'preterm birth'. Being born too early can lead to serious health challenges for babies, both shortly after birth and sometimes throughout their lives. Pre-eclampsia can also be life-threatening for the mother.
While we can't cure pre-eclampsia, we can offer a simple treatment – a daily low dose of aspirin – to help prevent it from developing in those at risk. It's safe to use in pregnancy and is usually recommended to start before 16 weeks. This STARshiP study wants to find out if a new test from the Fetal Medicine Foundation (FMF) is better at spotting who is at risk of pre-eclampsia compared to the test currently used in the NHS across the UK. Previous research suggests the FMF test might be better at identifying those at risk of the more severe types of pre-eclampsia. By finding those at risk more accurately, the hope is to prevent more cases of pre-eclampsia and reduce the number of babies born too early.
This study is really important because it could help doctors decide which screening test is best to use across the country. The aim is to ensure that more pregnant women and birthing people get the right care to protect their health and the health of their babies. By taking part, you'll be contributing to research that could improve pregnancy care for many hundreds of thousands of people in the future.
Key takeaways
- Pre-eclampsia is a serious pregnancy condition but can sometimes be prevented.
- This study compares a new pre-eclampsia screening test to the current NHS one.
- The goal is to reduce pre-eclampsia and premature births.
- If you're at risk, taking a low dose of aspirin daily can help.
- Your participation helps improve care for pregnant people across the UK.
Who may be eligible?
If you are pregnant and receiving care at one of the hospitals taking part in this study, you might be included. The study is running in selected NHS hospitals in England. These are usually hospitals that handle at least 2,500 births each year and haven't already started using the new FMF screening test for pre-eclampsia.
For you personally, if you visit one of these participating hospitals for your first-trimester pregnancy care (before 16 weeks of pregnancy), you will be eligible for either the standard NHS pre-eclampsia screening or the new FMF screening, depending on which test that hospital is currently using as part of the study.
Could this study suit you?
Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.
- Are you pregnant?
- Are you receiving antenatal care?
- Is your care at an NHS hospital in England?
- Are you in your first trimester (before 16 weeks of pregnancy)?
What does participation involve?
If you are part of this study, your hospital will offer you pre-eclampsia screening during your first trimester (before 16 weeks of pregnancy). Depending on when your hospital joins the study, or which test they are using at that moment, you will either have the standard NHS test or the new FMF test.
If you have the standard NHS test, a midwife will ask you questions about your medical history and give you your risk assessment for pre-eclampsia straight away. If your hospital is using the new FMF test, you'll also be asked similar questions, and you might have your blood pressure checked, an ultrasound scan measure, and a blood test at the same time as your usual dating scan. The results from these will be used to work out a more personalised risk score for you. You won't get this result straight away as it takes time for all the tests to be processed, but the hospital staff will let you know your risk level when it's ready.
No matter which test you have, if you are found to be at 'high risk' of pre-eclampsia, your hospital team will assess you. They will most likely recommend that you start taking a low dose of aspirin daily throughout your pregnancy. This is a common and safe recommendation to help prevent pre-eclampsia. There's also an option to fill out questionnaires or even take part in a phone interview to share your thoughts and experiences about the screening process, which helps the researchers understand what works best.
Potential risks and benefits
Locations (1)
- Manchester University NHS Foundation TrustCity onlyManchester, United Kingdom
Common questions
What is pre-eclampsia?
Pre-eclampsia is a pregnancy condition that causes high blood pressure and can impact organs like the kidneys and liver. It can also affect the baby's growth and may lead to early birth.
What is the study trying to achieve?
The study aims to find out if a new screening test for pre-eclampsia (the FMF test) is better than the current NHS test at reducing pre-eclampsia cases and premature births.
Will I have to pay to be part of this study?
No, all care and tests provided as part of this study are within NHS Trusts and are free of charge.
What if I'm found to be at high risk?
If you are at high risk, your hospital team will assess you and will likely recommend you take a low dose of aspirin daily throughout your pregnancy, which is a safe way to help prevent pre-eclampsia.
Who is funding this research?
The study is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and the charity Action on Pre-Eclampsia (APEC).
How to find out more
Lilly Collins
Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.
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