Hepcidin and Anaemia in Pregnancy (HAPn)
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN21955180 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN21955180 |
| Protocol serial number | SCC 1357v3 |
| Sponsor | The Medical Research Council (MRC) (UK) |
| Funders | Medical Research Council (MRC) (UK) - International Nutrition Group, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (USA) |
- Submission date
- 19/03/2014
- Registration date
- 14/04/2014
- Last edited
- 15/10/2019
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Pregnancy and Childbirth
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
Iron supplementation is recommended for all pregnant women in those places where anaemia (iron deficiency) rates exceed 40%. Recent studies show this can pose a risk to pregnant women. Therefore, there is a need to explore screen-and-treat options to minimise iron exposure during pregnancy. This can be done using an overall lower dosage of iron that would achieve similar results as the standard recommendation. However, we dont know how to best assess iron deficiency when infections are prevalent. The level of the hormone hepcidin is thought to indicate whether it is safe to receive iron. This initial study will lead to a larger study to find out if a screen-and-treat approach to iron supplementation using hepcidin levels will prevent anaemia at a lower iron dose, hence improving safety.
Who can participate?
Pregnant women, 14 22 weeks into pregnancy, coming to participating Reproductive and Child Health Clinics (RCH) can take part.
What does the study involve?
After taking an initial blood sample from the vein and assessing the age of their pregnancy, each participant is randomly allocated into one of the three study groups, to either receive: (a) UNICEF/WHO/UNU international multiple micronutrient preparation (UNIMMAP) containing 60 mg/day iron (reference group); (b) UNIMMAP containing 60 mg/day iron but based on a weekly hepcidin screening to tell if iron should be given for the next 7 days or not; (c) UNIMMAP containing 30 mg/day iron as in (b) for 12 weeks in rural Gambia. Each week, finger prick blood samples will be taken to find out the hepcidin level, haemoglobin (Hb) level and test for malaria. During the 12-week follow-up, additional blood samples are taken and side-effects and any other health issues are assessed. Although active participation finishes at the end of the supplementation period, a last investigation regarding pregnancy outcome will be made after delivery. This will include a postnatal check-up to monitor the mothers general condition after delivery and assessment of babies. All participants will be provided with long-lasting insecticide-treated nets (LLINs).
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Benefits will include study participants having access to basic medical services for free. Participants will benefit from weekly monitoring by qualified field workers where anaemia can be detected. Malaria can also be diagnosed and managed. There are risks associated with a large intake of iron supplement. However, the reference group of this study takes iron as per standard government practice and the other two groups take an overall lower dose of iron. This will decrease the risk of over dosage. If those in group (c) are moderately anaemic (borderline severe anaemia), they may be at risk of receiving too little iron but will be monitored every week and if seen to become severely anaemic, will be treated as per Gambia Government recommendation for management of severe anaemia. The UNIMMAP formulation has been used in other pregnancy studies in developing countries with good patient compliance and acceptability. No emergency is expected from taking this supplement. However, a study nurse will always be available who will decide whether to refer a participant to a health facility in case this is necessary.
Where is the study run from?
This study will be run from 12 communities in Jarra West and Kiang East of Rural Gambia.
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
The study starts in April 2014 and will finish enrolment within about 1 year.
Who is funding the study?
Medical Research Council (MRC) (UK) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (USA).
Who is the main contact?
Mr Amat Bah
Amat.Bah@lshtm.ac.uk
Contact information
Scientific
MRC International Nutrition Group
MRC Keneba
Banjul
POBOX 273
Gambia
| Phone | +220 9901696 |
|---|---|
| Amat.Bah@lshtm.ac.uk |
Study information
| Primary study design | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Study design | Proof-of-concept three-arm double-blind randomised controlled trial |
| Secondary study design | Randomised controlled trial |
| Study type | Participant information sheet |
| Scientific title | A double-blind randomised controlled trial comparing standard dose of iron supplementation for pregnant women with two screen-and-treat approaches using hepcidin as a biomarker for ready and safe to receive iron |
| Study acronym | HAPn |
| Study objectives | It is hypothesised that a screen-and-treat approach to iron supplementation will achieve similar efficacy in combating iron deficiency (ID) and iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) at a lower overall dosage of iron (with the assumption that this will improve safety and tolerability). |
| Ethics approval(s) | The Gambia Government/MRC Joint Ethics Committee, 19/12/2013, ref. SCC 1357v3 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Anaemia in pregnancy |
| Intervention | This study will involve 462 pregnant women between 14 and 22 weeks gestation over a period of 12 weeks randomly assigned (1:1:1 ratio) to either receive: 1. UNIMMAP containing 60 mg/day iron 2. UNIMMAP containing 60 mg/day iron but based on a weekly hepcidin screening indicating if iron can be given for the next 7 days or not 3. UNIMMAP containing 30 mg/day iron Intervention product The nutritional supplement to be used in this trial is the UNICEF/WHO/UNU international multiple micronutrient preparation (UNIMMAP). All formulations also contain 400 ug folic acid and 14 other micronutrients. Three investigational products will be administered: UNIMMAP with 60 mg iron UNIMMAP with 30 mg iron UNIMMAP with 0 mg iron (for when iron is not needed). |
| Intervention type | Drug |
| Phase | Not Applicable |
| Drug / device / biological / vaccine name(s) | Hepcidin |
| Primary outcome measure(s) |
Haemoglobin - defined as pregnancy stage adjusted haemoglobin at day 84 |
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) |
1. Proportion of anaemia (Hb < 11 g/dl) at day 84 |
| Completion date | 21/03/2015 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Patient |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Lower age limit | 18 Years |
| Sex | Female |
| Target sample size at registration | 462 |
| Total final enrolment | 498 |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. Pregnant (gestational age between 14 - 22 weeks) 2. Age: 18 to 45 years 3. Likely to be resident in study area for duration of trial 4. Written informed consent obtained |
| Key exclusion criteria | 1. Severely anaemic (< 7 g/dl) 2. Seriously ill (infectious disease of clinical significance) at recruitment 3. Chronic disease 4. Pregnancy complications (e.g. pre-eclampsia) at enrolment 5. Already part of another study |
| Date of first enrolment | 21/04/2014 |
| Date of final enrolment | 21/03/2015 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- Gambia
Study participating centre
POBOX 273
Gambia
Results and Publications
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | No |
|---|---|
| IPD sharing plan summary | Not provided at time of registration |
| IPD sharing plan |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Results article | results | 01/11/2019 | 15/10/2019 | Yes | No |
| Protocol article | protocol | 13/07/2016 | Yes | No | |
| Participant information sheet | Participant information sheet | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
Editorial Notes
15/10/2019: The following changes were made:
1. Publication reference added.
2. The final enrolment number was added from the reference.
19/12/2017: Publication reference added.
