ABPEP: Assessment of Biomarkers in PUL and Ectopic Pregnancy

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  ABPEP: Assessment of Biomarkers in Pregnancy of Unknown Location and Ectopic Pregnancy

• IRAS ID

  156858

• Contact name

  Tom Bourne

• Sponsor organisation

  Imperial college Healthcare

• Duration of Study in the UK

  3 years, 0 months, 1 days

• Research summary

  'PUL' (pregnancy of unknown location) is a phenomenon in early pregnancy where a woman has a positive pregnancy test but we cannot locate the site of the pregnancy with an ultrasound scan. The concern is that we may be missing an ectopic pregnancy (a potentially dangerous situation where the pregnancy is not in the womb). The management of women with a PUL or ectopic pregnancy can be prolonged and haphazard.

  This study wants to improve the care we provide to this cohort of women by:

  [1] Using a validated statistical model which will aid clinicians in managing these patients

  [2] 'hCG' (i.e. the 'pregnancy hormone') is routinely measured in blood samples when managing these patients. We will assess whether measuring hCG in urine is as accurate as measuring it in blood. If this proves to be true, it would be much more convenient for women attending an EPU as they would not have to have repeated blood tests and would just have to provide a urine sample.

  [3] We want to find a better marker/ hormone in blood, urine, a mid-vaginal swab or stool which will help manage these women (in addition to or as a replacement for hCG).

• REC name

  North of Scotland Research Ethics Committee 1

• REC reference

  14/NS/1078

• Date of REC Opinion

  8 Dec 2014

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion