Information For Health Care Providers

What is the purpose of this research?

This project will study the role of intrauterine inflammation as a determinant of future disease in the offspring. We will study how increased production of inflammatory proteins influences the occurrence of prematurity and future endocrine, cardiovascular, neurologic, respiratory, and autoimmune disorders. There is compelling evidence to support the rationale for this study but this will be the first prospective study to evaluate the role of intrauterine inflammation as a determinant of future disease in the offspring.

Why is this study important?

The results of this study should have important implications for disease treatment and prevention. For example, the results of this research are expected to provide information that will help prevent premature labour in some women and allow for prenatal interventions to improve the health of the offspring later in life.

Who is doing this research?

This study is being led by a multidisciplinary team of more than 30 researchers affiliated with the University of Saskatchewan in association with collaborators from elsewhere in the country.

Who will be the subjects in this study?

• A Pre-Conception Cohort - women who intend to become pregnant within one year and who do become pregnant. These women will be evaluated prior to becoming pregnant, within four weeks of conception, and in trimesters two and three. The offspring of these women will be followed for 18 months..
• A Conception Cohort - women enrolled during the first trimester of pregnancy who will be evaluated in each trimester. The offspring of these women will be followed for 18 months.
• A High Risk Birth Cohort - women identified as having a high risk pregnancy (as example, premature labour, history of premature labour, hypertension, gestational diabetes, obesity, underlying inflammatory/immune-mediated diseases or any other condition deemed by the primary care physician to be a high risk factor). The women will be identified in the last trimester either from the ante-partum unit or by their primary care physician. The offspring will be followed for 18 months

What will the people participating in this study be asked to do?

Women partcipating in the study will complete a series of questionnaires, study staff will collect pertinent clinical information, and women will be asked to provide a blood, hair, and saliva sample for inflammatory, toxicology and genetic studies. At the time of birth, samples of cord blood, meconium, umbilical cord and placenta will be collected by study staff. Children will be assessed at 6 month intervals for 18 months to assess neurodevelopment, cardiovascular, respiratory and general health status.

How will subjects be recruited?

Prospective subjects will be made aware of the study by their primary care physician or obstetrician or through publicly-accessible notices (such as pre-natal classes and media announcements). Prospective subjects will indicate their interest in the study by contacting the study's administrative office and speaking with a research nurse.