White Adipose Tissue in Pregnancy Study
This study, called the 'White Adipose Tissue in Pregnancy Study', aims to understand how a pregnant woman's body fat (adipose tissue) changes and how these changes might affect her health during pregnancy. Specifically, researchers want to see if these fat changes contribute to conditions like gestational diabetes (GDM) or intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP). These conditions involve problems with how the body handles sugar, fats, or bile acids. Researchers will collect tiny samples of body fat from women who are already having a C-section or other surgeries. They will compare samples from women with these conditions to those from women with healthy pregnancies to learn more about why some women develop these issues.
At a glance
What is this study about?
During pregnancy, your body goes through many changes to support your growing baby. One of these changes is a natural shift in how your body handles things like sugars, fats, and bile acids. In early pregnancy, these levels are usually normal, but by late pregnancy, they tend to get higher. This is usually a good thing, as it helps provide nutrients to your baby. However, for some women, these changes can become too much and lead to certain health problems during pregnancy.
This study focuses on two of these conditions: gestational diabetes (GDM) and intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP). GDM is when your blood sugar levels become too high during pregnancy, and ICP is a liver condition that causes severe itching. Both impact how your body processes things. Researchers believe that the way your body stores and uses fat, particularly different types of fat, might play a big role in whether you develop these conditions.
The main goal of this study is to look closely at samples of body fat from pregnant women to understand how it works and changes. By comparing fat samples from women with GDM or ICP to those from women with healthy pregnancies, the researchers hope to find out if there are specific differences in these fat stores that contribute to these conditions. This deeper understanding could one day help doctors better predict, prevent, or treat these pregnancy-related health issues.
Key takeaways
- This study helps understand pregnancy conditions like gestational diabetes.
- It looks at how body fat changes during pregnancy.
- Samples are only collected during existing surgeries (C-section, keyhole surgery).
- No extra procedures or appointments are needed for the study.
- Your participation could help future pregnant women.
Who may be eligible?
To be part of this study, you would need to be a pregnant woman between 18 and 50 years old. The researchers are looking for two main groups: women who are having a healthy, uncomplicated pregnancy, and women who have specific pregnancy-related health conditions like gestational diabetes or intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP).
You would not be able to join the study if you have certain other conditions or are taking particular medications. For example, if you have Type 1 diabetes, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or HIV, you wouldn't be eligible. Also, women taking certain medicines that suppress the immune system (like azathioprine) or long-term steroid treatments (like prednisolone) would not be able to participate. It's also essential that you are able to understand and agree to take part in the study yourself.
Could this study suit you?
Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.
- Are you a pregnant woman between 18 and 50 years old?
- Are you scheduled for a C-section or certain keyhole surgeries?
- Do you have a healthy pregnancy, or have you been told you have gestational diabetes or ICP?
- Do you NOT have Type 1 diabetes, hepatitis B/C, or HIV?
- Are you NOT taking certain immune-suppressing drugs or long-term steroids?
What does participation involve?
If you decide to take part in this study, it would involve providing a small sample of your body fat. This sample would only be taken if you are already having a planned surgical procedure for another reason, such as a Caesarean section (often happening in the third trimester of pregnancy) or a laparoscopic surgery (keyhole surgery, which might be for an ectopic pregnancy in the first trimester). The study would also involve providing a blood sample at the same time as your surgery. There are no extra hospital visits or follow-up appointments directly linked to this study; the samples are simply collected during your existing clinical care appointments.
Potential risks and benefits
Locations (2)
- Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation TrustVerified postcodeLondon, United Kingdom
- Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust HammersmithVerified postcodeLondon, United Kingdom
Common questions
What is 'adipose tissue'?
Adipose tissue is simply the medical term for body fat.
What are GDM and ICP?
GDM stands for gestational diabetes, which is high blood sugar in pregnancy. ICP is intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy, a liver condition that causes severe itching.
Will I have extra surgery if I join this study?
No, samples are only collected during surgery you are already having, like a C-section or other keyhole surgery.
Will taking part affect my medical care?
No, your decision to join or not join, or to withdraw, will not affect your medical care in any way.
Will I know the results of my individual samples?
The study aims to understand general trends, so individual results from your samples are not typically shared back with participants.
How to find out more
Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.
Discussion
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