Preventing premature births

The country's largest study aimed at preventing pre-eclampsia, which kills three babies every week in England and Wales, has been launched by the Wellcome Trust.

Every year some 25 000 expectant mothers throughout the UK are affected by pre-eclampsia which causes damage to the blood vessels and can lead to fits and stroke or injury to the lungs, liver and kidneys. Reduced blood flow to the placenta can cause the baby's growth to slow and may lead to death.

Early delivery is the only answer to pre-eclampsia which causes the premature births of between 7000 and 12 000 babies annually. Many of these may suffer from respiratory problems, blindness or deafness and some will be born before 30 weeks, weighing less than 1.5kg. These premature births can lead to persistent health problems lasting into adulthood.

Figures from the Office of National Statistics show that during 2001 in England and Wales there were 50 infant deaths and 119 stillbirths resulting from pre-eclampsia.

Most women make a complete recovery although pre-eclampsia still claims the lives of up to 40 000* mothers throughout the world every year. It is estimated there are around 8 000 000 cases annually and it remains one of the most common causes of death amongst pregnant women.

The £1.3 million study is being conducted by Tommy's, the baby charity's Fetal and Maternal Health team that includes Professors Lucilla Poston and Andrew Shennan.

The researchers know pre-eclampsia leads to a deficiency in certain vitamins and believe this is the cause of the problem. To test this the team is looking to recruit 2400 mothers who are at least 14-weeks pregnant and known to be suffering from high blood pressure, kidney problems, clotting disorders or diabetes. These women will be given supplements of vitamins C and E to determine if the antioxidants will prevent pre-eclampsia. The study also aims to confirm that the extra vitamins do no harm to the babies.

Professor Poston said: "This is a devastating disease which kills thousands of pregnant women around the world and is a cause of many premature births. Until now we have been unable to treat this condition effectively but this study gives us the opportunity to make a huge difference.

"Finding a way of preventing pre-eclampsia could save many lives, both of babies and their mothers, as well as dramatically reducing health costs.

"The first signs of pre-eclampsia are often an increase in blood pressure and the appearance of protein in the mother's urine. Life-threatening problems can follow on very quickly with very little warning, this is why women have to be checked so frequently during pregnancy."

A pilot study carried out by Tommy's has already shown that taking vitamins C and E early in pregnancy can more than halve pre-eclampsia rates in high-risk women. The research team hopes to confirm this with a large-scale programme.

Over the next two years midwives will recruit pregnant women at 22 hospitals situated in Birmingham, Bradford, Bristol, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, Maidstone, Manchester, Newcastle, Oxford and London.

If you would like to take part or want further information on the study you can contact the research team on 020 7960 5887.

ENDS

* Latest figures from the World Health Organization.

For more information contact

Barry Gardner
Wellcome Trust Press Office
Tel: 020 7611 7329
E-mail: b.gardner@wellcome.ac.uk

Notes to Editors

• The Wellcome Trust is an independent research-funding charity established in 1936 under the will of tropical medicine pioneer Sir Henry Wellcome. The Trust's mission is to promote research with the aim of improving human and animal health. Website: www.wellcome.ac.uk

• Tommy's, the baby charity, was set up in 1992 and through a national programme of research, aims to end the heartache caused by premature birth, miscarriage and stillbirth. It also provides information on healthy pregnancy to parents and health professionals.