Plain English Summary
Background and study aims
Pelvic organ prolapse is the bulging or drooping of any pelvic organs (bladder, uterus, bowel) into the vagina. Prolapse is a common gynaecologic condition caused by weakening of the supporting tissues of the pelvic floor. Prolapse operations may include vaginal hysterectomy (removal of the womb vaginally) or pelvic floor repair (tightening of the front or back wall of the vagina or support the top of vagina). Hormone (oestrogen) replacement might improve the condition of the vaginal wall and help strengthen the pelvic floor, reducing complications of surgery eg water infections and improving the quality of the surgical repair. Postmenopausal women with vaginal dryness are sometimes treated with oestrogen in the form of tablets (pessaries) they insert into the vagina. However, it's not known whether vaginal application of oestrogen might reduce complications during operations for prolapse and improve long term postoperative outcomes. The aim of the LOTUS study will be to test whether treatment with vaginal oestrogen pessaries, improves prolapse related quality of life after surgery. We also want to see whether surgical complications are reduced and sexual function improved in these patients. Before starting a large study, it's important to rehearse the trial plan in a small feasibility study (treatment v no treatment), to see, for example, how many eligible women could be recruited to the study, how many would be willing to have treatment assigned at random, and how many would stick with the treatment for a specified period of time. This feasibility study will also help calculate the number of patients required for a definitive study, and the resources needed.
Who can participate?
Postmenopausal women about to undergo surgery for a pelvic organ prolapse and that have not had HRT in the last 12 months.
What does the study involve?
Participants are randomly allocated into one of two groups. Those in group 1 (intervention) are put on a 6 week course of oestradiol (once daily for 2 weeks followed by twice weekly for four weeks) and then again twice weekly from 6-26 weeks after surgery. Those participants in group 2 (control) are not given the oestradiol treatment. All participants are then followed up 12 months after the surgery to assess their quality of life.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
To date, there has been no robust data on the benefits of pre and postoperative oestrogen treatment in postmenopausal women undergoing POP surgery. A Cochrane review published in 2010 did not find any clear evidence to suggest whether oestrogens help in reducing the symptoms of POP.3 However due to frequent use, it was recommended that adequately powered RCTs with long term follow up is needed to identify benefits or risks.
Where is the study run from?
University of Birmingham Clinical Trials Unit (UK)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
July 2015 to July 2017
Who is funding the study?
National Institute for Health Research (UK)
Who is the main contact?
Mrs Lisa Leighton
Trial website
Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
2014-000179-18
ClinicalTrials.gov number
Protocol/serial number
18990
Study information
Scientific title
Local Oestrogen Treatment in postmenopausal women Undergoing pelvic organ prolapse Surgery (LOTUS) feasibility study
Acronym
LOTUS
Study hypothesis
The aim of the LOTUS study is to establish whether treatment with vaginal oestrogen pessaries, for 6 weeks before and 52 weeks after prolapse repair surgery, improves prolapse related quality of life one year following surgery. We also want to assess whether surgical complications are reduced and sexual function improved. This will require a clinical trial of several hundred women, half of whom would receive oestrogen and half who would receive no treatment. This feasibility study is being conducted in order to help calculate the number required for a definitive study, and the resources needed.
Ethics approval
West Midlands Ethics Committee, 28/04/2015, ref: 15/WM/0092
Study design
Randomised; Interventional; Design type: Not specified, Treatment
Primary study design
Interventional
Secondary study design
Randomised controlled trial
Trial setting
Other
Trial type
Treatment
Patient information sheet
Not available in web format, please use contact details to request a participant information sheet
Condition
Topic: Reproductive health and childbirth; Subtopic: Reproductive Health and Childbirth (all Subtopics); Disease: Reproductive Health & Childbirth
Intervention
Intervention group (Group A): This will comprise of 6 weeks course of oestradiol 10 µg preoperatively per vaginum (once daily for 2 weeks followed by twice weekly for four weeks) and then 10µg oestradiol per vaginum twice weekly from 6-26 weeks postoperatively
Follow Up Length: 12 month(s); Study Entry : Single Randomisation only
Intervention type
Biological/Vaccine
Phase
Drug names
Primary outcome measure
Improvement in prolapse related QoL at 12 months as assessed by PFDI SF20.
Secondary outcome measures
Improvement sexual function related quality of life (QoL) at 12 months with the use of PISQ 12
1. Reduction of intraoperative complications like tearing or button holing of the vagina and blood loss
2. Reduction in the incidence of surgical wound infection and urinary tract infection postoperatively
3. Validate Patient Global Impression of Improvement (PGI-I)19 in relation to the POP surgery, PFDI SF20 and PFIQ-7
Overall trial start date
01/04/2015
Overall trial end date
01/07/2017
Reason abandoned (if study stopped)
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
1. Postmenopausal women
2. Consented to undergo surgical intervention for pelvic organ prolapse
3. Have not received HRT in the last 12 months
4. Willing to be randomised
5. Give written informed consent; Target Gender: Female; Upper Age Limit 90 years ; Lower Age Limit 30 years
Participant type
Patient
Age group
Adult
Gender
Female
Target number of participants
Planned Sample Size: 100; UK Sample Size: 100; Description: Postmenapausal women with pelvic organ prolapse (Obs & Gynae)
Participant exclusion criteria
1. Previous breast or uterine malignancy or other hormone dependent neoplasms
2. Genital bleeding of unknown origin
3. Previous thromboembolic episodes in relation to oestrogen therapy
4. Women who cannot understand speak or write in English
5. Women known to be allergic to any of the components of vaginal oestrogens
6. Two or more episodes of culture positive UTI in the last 6 months
7. Previous POP surgery
8. Voiding dysfunction(PVR>150ml)
9. Current or previous POP surgery involving mesh
Recruitment start date
01/07/2015
Recruitment end date
01/07/2017
Locations
Countries of recruitment
United Kingdom
Trial participating centre
Birmingham Women’s Hospital (Lead site)
Mindelsohn Way
Birmingham
B15 2TG
United Kingdom
Trial participating centre
Croydon University Hospital
530 London Road
Croydon
Surrey
CR7 7YE
United Kingdom
Trial participating centre
Medway Maritime Hospital
Windmill Road
Gillingham
ME7 5NY
United Kingdom
Trial participating centre
Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital
Aldermaston Road
Basingstoke
Hampshire
RG24 9NA
United Kingdom
Trial participating centre
Queen Alexandra Hospital
Southwick Hill Road
Portsmouth
Hampshire
PO6 3LY
United Kingdom
Funders
Funder type
Government
Funder name
National Institute for Health Research
Alternative name(s)
NIHR
Funding Body Type
government organisation
Funding Body Subtype
National government
Location
United Kingdom
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
This feasibility study is designed to identify if a substantive trial is possible, although the findings of this study may be of scientific interest to others in their own right. We plan the dissemination strategy in a number of ways: A report will be prepared for the funders and ethics committee. Findings will be more widely available via the trial study website. The feasibility findings will also be presented at local and national meetings such as the British Society of Urogynaecology or British Menopause Society. This will capture an extremely large audience of national and international clinicians. We will seek all opportunities to assess the willingness to participate throughout the feasibility study and gain research community support for in a substantive trial should such a RCT be proven feasible.
Intention to publish date
Participant level data
Not provided at time of registration
Basic results (scientific)
Publication list