Fetal Electrophysiologic Abnormalities in High-Risk Pregnancies Associated With Fetal Demise

Congenital Heart Disease Clinical Trial

Official title:

Fetal Electrophysiologic Abnormalities in High-risk Pregnancies Associated With Fetal Demise

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Recruiting

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT03775954
• Other study ID #: PRO00031598
• Secondary ID: R01HL143485
• Status: Recruiting
• Start date: July 1, 2018
• Est. completion date: April 30, 2024

Study information

• Verified date: November 2023
• Source: Medical College of Wisconsin
• Contact: Mara C Koffarnus, MD
• Phone: 414-266-4758
• Email: mkoffarn[@]mcw.edu
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Observational

Clinical Trial Summary

Each year world-wide, 2.5 million fetuses die unexpectedly in the last half of pregnancy, 25,000 in the United States, making fetal demise ten-times more common than Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. This study will apply a novel type of non-invasive monitoring, called fetal magnetocardiography (fMCG) used thus far to successfully evaluate fetal arrhythmias, in order to discover potential hidden electrophysiologic abnormalities that could lead to fetal demise in five high-risk pregnancy conditions associated with fetal demise.

Description:

Fetal demise occurs in over 25,000 pregnancies annually in the US and over 2.5 million in pregnancies worldwide. Certain maternal-fetal-placental abnormalities can have a high risk of fetal demise. Despite advances in fetal surveillance with ultrasound and cardiotocography, the reduction in fetal mortality lags behind that of the neonate and has shown little decline in the past decade. This suggests that the type of fetal monitoring used may not be assessing the correct indicators of mortality. In all other age groups, electrocardiographic (ECG) and continuous heart rate (HR) monitoring are used in every intensive care unit or emergency setting; however, for the fetus, the ECG signal is nearly completely insulated and inaccessible. As the result, indirect assessment of cardiac rhythm is obtained using echocardiography/Doppler, but echo/Doppler does not have the precision to assess beat-to-beat HR variability and cannot assess cardiac repolarization at all. In this study, the investigators will evaluate five high risk conditions (major congenital heart disease in the fetus, fetal hydrops (immune and non-immune), monochorionic twin pregnancy, prior pregnancy ending in fetal demise, and gastroschisis) using Fetal Magnetocardiography (fMCG)which detects the natural magnetic signals accompanying the cardiac electrical signal. It is a new, safe, and non-invasive recording technique that has been performed for several decades, and has recently gained FDA approval for recording cardiac signals at all ages, including in the fetus. Normative data has been obtained at the University of Wisconsin - Madison Biomagnetism Laboratory in 257 healthy fetuses by co-investigator Ronald T. Wakai, PhD. Over 550 serious fetal arrhythmias have been evaluated to date. Fetal MCG has proven invaluable in fetal Long QT Syndrome in identifying markers for risk of sudden death such as Torsades de Pointes Ventricular Tachycardia (VT), T wave alternans, 2nd degree AV block, and QTc>590 ms. To date, fMCG has not been systematically applied to diseases that are not associated with recognizable arrhythmias because the impact of silent conduction and repolarization defects has been underappreciated. In this grant, the investigators hypothesize that beat-to-beat fetal heart rate variability abnormalities and electrophysiologic abnormalities, are present in five high risk maternal-fetal-placental conditions associated with fetal demise. The study will determine which electrophysiologic abnormalities precede fetal demise or adverse pregnancy outcome. Preliminary findings in healthy normal subjects in RO1HL063174 (Wakai) show repolarization abnormalities in up to 5%, and some of these are modifiable once recognized. Two hundred pregnant subjects will be studied over a 5 year period both at referral (~20-27 weeks GA) and later in pregnancy at 30-37 weeks GA. fMCG results will be compared to neonatal ECG (nECG) obtained at 0-4 weeks of life. This will determine whether specific abnormal heart rate, rhythm and conduction patterns emerge that characterize the condition, which will then allow the high risk obstetrician to better predict risk of fetal demise in the future.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Recruiting
• Enrollment: 200
• Est. completion date: April 30, 2024
• Est. primary completion date: April 30, 2024
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: Female
• Age group: 18 Years and older

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Current pregnancy complicated by one of the five diagnostic categories

• prior unexplained Stillbirth at/after 20 weeks gestation

• fetal major congenital heart defect

• fetal hydrops

• fetal gastroschisis

• monochorionic twin pregnancy

• Subject must be 18 years of age or older

• Subject must be English speaking and must be able to read and sign the consent form in English

• Subject must be able to recline comfortably for 1-3 hours

• Subject must be willing to complete all three procedures (fMCG, fMCG, nECG) as per protocol, unless medically unable

• Subject must be willing to allow us to review her and her infants prenatal, deliver, and post-natal records to verify diagnosis, and clinical findings.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Severe claustrophobia not reduced by taking breaks, or by having the light on, or by having someone in the room with them.

• Active labor

• Acute illness

• Unable to recline comfortably with a pillow for more than 1-3 hours (assuming some breaks are provided)

• Weight over 450 lbs

• An electric stimulation device (TENS unit, pacemaker, or nerve stimulator) that could produce electric or magnetic noise.

• Note that the Tristan 624 Magnetometer does not pose a risk to the subject's device, (since fMCG does not produce any energy or magnetism), but stimulators themselves can cause interference for our recordings. Some devices may still qualify, and discussion with study nurse may be useful if subject has a pacemaker or similar device.

The subject will have a single 2-3 hour fetal magnetocardiogram at approximately 20 and 27 weeks GA, and again, if medical condition allows, between 30 and 37 weeks GA, then her infant will have an ECG between 0 and 4 weeks of age. Subjects will be paid a nominal fee for their participation each time, as well as transportation reimbursement if >25 miles. For subjects traveling a long distance, the ECG may be performed locally or at home.

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Arrhythmias, Cardiac
• Birth Defect
• Brugada Syndrome
• Congenital Abnormalities
• Congenital Heart Disease
• Death
• Fetal Arrhythmia
• Fetal Cardiac Anomaly
• Fetal Cardiac Disorder
• Fetal Death
• Fetal Demise
• Fetal Hydrops
• Fetofetal Transfusion
• Gastroschisis
• Heart Defects, Congenital
• Heart Diseases
• High Risk Pregnancy
• Hydrops Fetalis
• Infant Death
• Intrauterine Fetal Death
• Long QT Syndrome
• Pregnancy Loss
• Stillbirth
• Sudden Infant Death
• Syndrome
• Twin Monochorionic Monoamniotic Placenta
• Twin Twin Transfusion Syndrome

Intervention

Diagnostic Test:
• Fetal Magnetocardiogram and Neonatal Electrocardiogram
Fetal Magnetocardiography (fMCG) is a new non-invasive diagnostic procedure that records tiny fetal cardiac signals similar to an Electrocardiogram or Holter monitor. The magnetometer has FDA clearance, and does not emit magnetic, electric or other energies. This is not an MRI. Examples of fetal MCG's can be found in the Links. The American Heart Association Scientific Statement on Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment (Circulation, 2014) has declared fMCG to be Class IIa for fetal heart rhythm abnormalities, meaning that benefit far exceeds risk. As part of this study, a neonatal electrocardiogram (nECG) will be obtained for comparison after the baby is born.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United States	University of Wisconsin - Madison	Madison	Wisconsin
United States	Medical College of Wisconsin	Milwaukee	Wisconsin

Sponsors (6)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Medical College of Wisconsin	Children's Hospital and Health System Foundation, Wisconsin, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), Shared Medical Technology, Inc., Tristan Technologies, Inc, University of Wisconsin, Madison

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United States, 

References & Publications (9)

Batie M, Bitant S, Strasburger JF, Shah V, Alem O, Wakai RT. Detection of Fetal Arrhythmia Using Optically-Pumped Magnetometers. JACC Clin Electrophysiol. 2018 Feb;4(2):284-287. doi: 10.1016/j.jacep.2017.08.009. No abstract available. — View Citation

Cuneo BF, Strasburger JF, Yu S, Horigome H, Hosono T, Kandori A, Wakai RT. In utero diagnosis of long QT syndrome by magnetocardiography. Circulation. 2013 Nov 12;128(20):2183-91. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.113.004840. — View Citation

Donofrio MT, Moon-Grady AJ, Hornberger LK, Copel JA, Sklansky MS, Abuhamad A, Cuneo BF, Huhta JC, Jonas RA, Krishnan A, Lacey S, Lee W, Michelfelder EC Sr, Rempel GR, Silverman NH, Spray TL, Strasburger JF, Tworetzky W, Rychik J; American Heart Association Adults With Congenital Heart Disease Joint Committee of the Council on Cardiovascular Disease in the Young and Council on Clinical Cardiology, Council on Cardiovascular Surgery and Anesthesia, and Council on Cardiovascular and Stroke Nursing. Diagnosis and treatment of fetal cardiac disease: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2014 May 27;129(21):2183-242. doi: 10.1161/01.cir.0000437597.44550.5d. Epub 2014 Apr 24. Erratum In: Circulation. 2014 May 27;129(21):e512. — View Citation

Strand S, Lutter W, Strasburger JF, Shah V, Baffa O, Wakai RT. Low-Cost Fetal Magnetocardiography: A Comparison of Superconducting Quantum Interference Device and Optically Pumped Magnetometers. J Am Heart Assoc. 2019 Aug 20;8(16):e013436. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.119.013436. Epub 2019 Aug 9. — View Citation

Strand S, Strasburger JF, Cuneo BF, Wakai RT. Complex and Novel Arrhythmias Precede Stillbirth in Fetuses With De Novo Long QT Syndrome. Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol. 2020 May;13(5):e008082. doi: 10.1161/CIRCEP.119.008082. Epub 2020 May 18. — View Citation

Strasburger JF, Eckstein G, Butler M, Noffke P, Wacker-Gussmann A. Fetal Arrhythmia Diagnosis and Pharmacologic Management. J Clin Pharmacol. 2022 Sep;62 Suppl 1(Suppl 1):S53-S66. doi: 10.1002/jcph.2129. — View Citation

Strasburger JF, Wakai RT. Fetal cardiac arrhythmia detection and in utero therapy. Nat Rev Cardiol. 2010 May;7(5):277-90. doi: 10.1038/nrcardio.2010.32. — View Citation

Wacker-Gussmann A, Strasburger JF, Wakai RT. Contribution of Fetal Magnetocardiography to Diagnosis, Risk Assessment, and Treatment of Fetal Arrhythmia. J Am Heart Assoc. 2022 Aug 2;11(15):e025224. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.121.025224. Epub 2022 Jul 29. — View Citation

Wacker-Gussmann A, Strasburger JF, Wakai RT. Fetal Magnetocardiography Alters Diagnosis and Management in Fetal Congenital Heart Disease and Cardiomyopathy. JACC Clin Electrophysiol. 2022 Sep;8(9):1159-1161. doi: 10.1016/j.jacep.2022.04.012. Epub 2022 Jun 29. No abstract available. — View Citation

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Heart rate variability using fMCG	To measure and compare the fMCG heart rate variability in five pregnancy conditions associated with fetal demise, to those of gestation matched normal fetuses.	Comparison of procedures at approximately 20-27 weeks gestation, at 30-37 weeks gestation, and at neonatal ECG at 0-4 weeks of age
Primary	Cardiac conduction	To measure and compare the fMCG cardiac time intervals in five pregnancy conditions associated with fetal demise, to those of gestation matched normal fetuses and to neonatal ECGs at 0-4 weeks of age.	Comparison of cardiac time intervals at approximately 20-27 weeks gestation, 30-37 weeks gestation and at neonatal ECG at 0-4 weeks of age
Primary	Cardiac repolarization	To measure and compare the fMCG cardiac repolarization patterns in five pregnancy conditions associated with fetal demise, to those of gestation matched normal fetuses, and to neonatal ECGs at 0-4 weeks of age.	Comparison of cardiac repolarization at approximately 20-27 weeks gestation, 30-37 weeks gestation and neonatal ECG at 0-4 weeks of age.
Secondary	Unique "signature" electrophysiologic abnormalities	2a) To determine whether unique "signature" electrophysiologic abnormalities are present in any of these five maternal-fetal diseases, and 2b) to define at what trimester these develop. Understanding any unique findings could allow study of specific treatment strategies in the future.; findings are first seen.	Comparison of findings at approximately 20-27 weeks gestation, 30-37 weeks gestation and neonatal ECG at 0-4 weeks of age
Secondary	Pregnancy outcomes	To correlate fMCG findings with 3a) outcomes of pregnancies (fetal demise, premature delivery, small for GA, 5 minute APGAR < 5, neonatal death) and 3b) fMCG cardiac time intervals with postnatal ECG intervals at 0-4 weeks of age.	Comparison of findings at approximately 20-27 weeks gestation, 30-37 weeks gestation and neonatal ECG at 0-4 weeks of age

External Links

•   Children's Hospital of Wisconsin Herma Heart Institute
•   Fetal MCG Research
•   NIH Seminar Dr. Strasburger is co-chair, speaks at 32 minutes, Dr. Wakai speaks at 62 minutes on fMCG and a participant speaks at 1::37 minutes on her experience in our study.