Progesterone in recurrent miscarriages (PROMISE) study
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN92644181 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN92644181 |
| Protocol serial number | HTA 08/38/01 |
| Sponsor | Imperial College London (UK) |
| Funder | Health Technology Assessment Programme |
- Submission date
- 10/03/2009
- Registration date
- 17/03/2009
- Last edited
- 31/05/2016
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Pregnancy and Childbirth
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
This study was undertaken to test whether giving the hormone progesterone to pregnant women with a history of repeated unexplained early pregnancy losses could increase the number of pregnancies leading to live births after at least 24 weeks of gestation.
Who can participate?
Women aged 18-39 with unexplained recurrent miscarriages (three or more consecutive or non-consecutive first trimester miscarriages). A pregnancy loss is considered to be unexplained if conditions known to increase the risk of miscarriage are absent.
What does the study involve?
Participants were randomly allocated to one of two groups: one group received progesterone twice daily as vaginal pessaries and the other group received a placebo (dummy) with an identical appearance, from soon after a positive urinary pregnancy test, and no later than 6 weeks of pregnancy, until 12 completed weeks of pregnancy (or earlier if the pregnancy ended before 12 weeks).
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
There is substantial evidence from IVF practice that progesterone supplementation is safe to the mother and fetus at the proposed dose. Moreover, recent studies of vaginal progesterone in the context of prevention of preterm birth have not shown any evidence of short-term safety concerns in the participants.
Where is the study run from?
45 hospitals in the UK and the Netherlands
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
From May 2009 to September 2014
Who is funding the study?
NIHR Health Technology Assessment Programme - HTA (UK)
Who is the main contact?
1. Dr Arri Coomarasamy (a.coomarasamy@bham.ac.uk)
2. Dr Rajendra Rai (r.rai@imperial.ac.uk)
Contact information
Scientific
3rd Floor, Academic Department
Birmingham Women's Hospital
Metchley Park Road
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TG
United Kingdom
 ORCID ID |
0000-0002-3261-9807 |
|---|---|
| Phone | +44 (0)121 623 6835 |
| a.coomarasamy@bham.ac.uk |
Scientific
Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology
St Mary's Hospital
Mint Wing
South Wharf Road
London
W2 1PG
United Kingdom
| Phone | +44 (0)207 886 2475 |
|---|---|
| r.rai@imperial.ac.uk |
Study information
| Primary study design | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Study design | Randomised double-blind placebo-controlled multi-centre trial |
| Secondary study design | Randomised controlled trial |
| Study type | Participant information sheet |
| Scientific title | First trimester progesterone therapy in women with a history of unexplained recurrent miscarriages: a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled multi-centre trial (The PROMISE [PROgesterone in recurrent MIScarriagE] Trial) |
| Study acronym | PROMISE |
| Study objectives | 1. In women with unexplained recurrent miscarriages, progesterone (400 mg pessaries, twice daily), started soon as possible after a positive pregnancy test (and no later than 6 weeks gestation) and continued to 12 weeks of gestation, compared to placebo, increases live births beyond 24 completed weeks by at least 10% (principal objective) 2. Progesterone improves secondary outcomes such as gestation at delivery, on-going pregnancy at 12 weeks, survival at 28 days of neonatal life 3. Progesterone, compared to placebo, does not incur substantial adverse effects to the mother or the neonate 4 Explore differential or subgroup effects of progesterone in prognostic subgroups 5. Perform an economic evaluation for cost-effectiveness More details can be found at http://www.nets.nihr.ac.uk/projects/hta/083801 Protocol can be found at http://www.nets.nihr.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0018/52911/PRO-08-38-01.pdf |
| Ethics approval(s) | REC: West Midlands Research Ethics Committee, 19/10/2009, ref: 09/H1208/44 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Unexplained recurrent miscarriages |
| Intervention | Intervention group: Progesterone pessaries (400 mg twice daily) started soon as possible after a positive pregnancy test (and no later than 6 weeks gestation) and continued to 12 weeks of gestation Control group: Placebo Total duration of follow-up per participant: 42 weeks |
| Intervention type | Drug |
| Phase | Not Applicable |
| Drug / device / biological / vaccine name(s) | Progesterone |
| Primary outcome measure(s) |
Live births beyond 24 weeks |
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) |
1. Gestation at delivery |
| Completion date | 01/09/2014 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Patient |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Lower age limit | 18 Years |
| Upper age limit | 39 Years |
| Sex | Female |
| Target sample size at registration | 790 |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. Women with unexplained recurrent miscarriages (3 or more consecutive first trimester miscarriages) 2. Age 18-39 years at randomisation (likelihood of miscarriages due to chromosomal aberrations is higher in older women; such miscarriages are unlikely to be prevented by progesterone therapy) 3. Spontaneous conception (as confirmed by urinary pregnancy tests) 4. Willing and able to give informed consent |
| Key exclusion criteria | 1. Inability to conceive spontaneously within 1 year of recruitment 2. Antiphospholipid syndrome (lupus anticoagulant and/or anticardiolipin antibodies [IgG or IgM]); other recognised thrombophilic conditions (testing according to usual clinic practice) 3. Intrauterine abnormalities (as assessed by ultrasound, hysterosonography, hysterosalpingogram, or hysteroscopy) 4. Fibroids distorting uterine cavity 5. Abnormal parental karyotype 6. Other identifiable causes of recurrent miscarriages (tests initiated only if clinically indicated) e.g., diabetes, thyroid disease and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) |
| Date of first enrolment | 01/06/2010 |
| Date of final enrolment | 01/10/2013 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- United Kingdom
- Netherlands
Study participating centre
Results and Publications
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | No |
|---|---|
| IPD sharing plan summary | Not expected to be made available |
| IPD sharing plan |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Results article | results | 26/11/2015 | Yes | No | |
| Results article | results | 01/05/2016 | Yes | No | |
| HRA research summary | 28/06/2023 | No | No | ||
| Participant information sheet | Participant information sheet | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
| Study website | Study website | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
Editorial Notes
31/05/2016: Publication reference added.
21/05/2015: the overall trial end date was changed from 01/05/2012 to 01/09/2014.
