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Endometrial Effects of Lipiodol

Phase 3
Conditions
Female Infertility
Interventions
Device: Mock catheter
Registration Number
NCT03542331
Lead Sponsor
Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel
Brief Summary

The goal is to investigate whether endometrial flushing with Lipiodol enhances fertility. Therefore, anatomo-pathological, histochemical and transcriptional changes of the endometrium after Lipiodol bathing in a general population of healthy volunteers will be determined.

Detailed Description

A single-centre, cross-over, open-label trial will be performed. Healthy volunteers, fulfilling the inclusion/exclusion criteria, will be asked to do blood samples and ultrasounds for the detection of the LH (luteinizing hormone) surge in a natural cycle. The intervention group will undergo endometrial flushing with Lipiodol between day 6 and 8 of the cycle, while the control group between day 6 and 8 of the cycle will have a mock catheter introduction without any Lipiodol flush. An endometrial biopsy will be performed 7 days after the LH peak in all the participants. Furthermore, all the participants will undergo one cycle with flushing and one cycle with introduction of a mock catheter but without flushing with any medication. The wash-out period between the 2 biopsies will be 3 months.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
UNKNOWN
Sex
Female
Target Recruitment
20
Inclusion Criteria
  • Women aged ≥18 and <36 years
  • Regular cycle (25-35 days)
  • Signed informed consent
  • Participants can be included only once in the trial
  • Contraceptive: barrier method only.
Exclusion Criteria
  • known iodine allergy
  • Body mass index 30 or ≤18.5
  • Smoking
  • Previous diagnosis of PCO (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) (>12 antral follicles in one ovary, Rotterdam criteria 2003)
  • Previous diagnosis of endometriosis, uterine malformations or intrauterine pathologies (submucosal fibroids, endometrial polyps, and intrauterine adhesions)
  • Systemic diseases such as thyroid dysfunction
  • Breast-feeding or pregnancy within the last 6 months
  • Intrauterine devices (IUD)
  • History of recurrent miscarriage
  • Known history of infertility
  • Previous uterine surgery
  • Pregnancy wish during the course of the study
  • Women who have been previously enrolled in the trial
  • Those unable to comprehend the investigational nature of the proposed study

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
CROSSOVER
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Control groupMock catheterThe control group wille have a mock catheter introduction between day 6 and 8 of the cycle without any Lipiodol flush
Intervention groupLipiodolThe intervention group will undergo endometrial flushing with Lipiodol between day 6 and 8 of the cycle
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Histochemical changes of the endometrium after Lipiodol bathing7 days after LH peak

The immunohistochemistry for the key implantation factors, the subsequent molecular markers will be examined: estrogen receptors (ER) (α/β), progesterone receptors (PR) (A, B), prolactine (PRL), insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 (IGF-BP1), leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF), Mucins (MUC1), integrin αVβ3, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEG-F), transforming growth factor (TGF-β1).

Transcriptional changes of the endometrium after Lipiodol bathing7 days after LH peak

RNA sequencing

Anatomo-pathological changes of the endometrium after Lipiodol bathing7 days after LH peak

To determine whether the treatment with lipiodol alters the leukocyte population. Changes in the uterine dendritic cell population, collections of macrophages and an increased number of inflammatory cells will be investigated. A sub-ephitelial re-location of lymphocytes (CD3-CD7 and CD8 (CD: Cluster of Differentiation)) will be looked for.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel

🇧🇪

Brussel, Belgium

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