PREPARE, Prematurity Reduction by Pre-eclampsia Care

This proposal (PREPARE), led by Brazilian investigators in collaboration with the Global Pregnancy Collaboration (CoLab) is centred on 7 hospital centres and their 23 satellite community health centres (UBSs). There are two clinical initiatives: First, a programme of systematic knowledge transfer (KT) to encourage adoption of the WHO Guidelines to prevent pre-eclampsia as part of routine antenatal care (Objective 1); second an intervention to reduce unnecessary preterm deliveries for the management of pre-eclampsia. CoLab investigators have developed methods to identify those women with preterm pre-eclampsia whose pregnancies can be safely prolonged.4-6 In Objective 2.1, these methods will be applied to women presenting with definite or suspected pre-eclampsia at < 37 weeks' gestation. Investigators will determine the likelihood of an imminent adverse outcome in these women using Soluble fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase-1-to-Placental Growth Factor Ratio (sFlT-1/PlGF) measurement and fullPIERS clinical assessment. Prior studies with these approaches indicate more than 98% negative predictive value for adverse outcomes for both.4-6 Investigators will delay delivery in those whose risk is low, caring for patients in accordance with evidence-based WHO guidelines.Unlike medications, management cannot be tested in a blinded way. Management needs integrated skills and commitment from caregivers. Hence, a standard randomized controlled trial is inappropriate. Instead investigators propose a Stepped Wedge Design to study outcomes in the 7 geographically diverse study centres, throughout Brazil. At least 6 women with preterm pre-eclampsia will deliver at each centre every month. The primary outcome will be a lower rate of PRETERM BIRTH due to pre-eclampsia as a proportion of total deliveries in the centre(s) after implementation of the plan compared to prior to its introduction. The study will have 80% power to demonstrate a 25% reduction (2.0 - 1.5%). Investigators will assess maternal and foetal adverse events as secondary outcomes. Objective 2.2 will institute an intense program of knowledge transfer to implement the new management techniques. In Objectives 2.3 and 2.4 will determine patient and provider satisfaction and the economic impact of the care plan. In Objective 3 will establish a biobank and database to begin to assess demographic factors and biological analytes that may help identify unique predictive and diagnostic/pathophysiological features for pre-eclampsia in the Brazilian population (that may extend to other low and middle income countries (LMIC)). For two years at routine visits (≤16 weeks, 28-32 weeks) at each UBS, relevant data and plasma, serum, urine and DNA samples will be stored to the appropriate standards in the biorepository (at least 7000 cases). Investigators estimate that will acquire samples at delivery in at least 5000 of these women. For four years, biological samples from women with pre-eclampsia or other adverse outcomes and 2 matched controls will be collected at admission for labour (an additional 3,000 subjects). Objective 4 will initiate pilot studies to identify novel biomarkers, and compare these and other known pathophysiological factors with those from LMIC (Africa, India) and HIC using samples from CoLab. Additional funding will be sought for expansion and validation (e.g. Merck for Mothers). Investigators will also seek funding to address risk stratification in apparently low risk women, based on the samples collected at 28-32 weeks. Objective 5 will promote intellectual interactions and collaboration between the seven centres and CoLab. Ability to understand and cure complex adverse pregnancy outcomes leading to acute and long-range disability in children requires intensive collaboration across usual "silos" including hospitals and nations. The coordinators anticipate the interaction of investigators and care providers in the seven centres will foster intellectual collaboration and improved standardized care. Brazilian investigators will become members of CoLab, increasing its unique vision, expertise and resources (current data and biological materials from 28 centres). worldwide).