Study to determine if miscarriages can be prevented

Sept. 9, 2004 -- Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis are seeking women who have had two or more unexplained first trimester miscarriages to evaluate an experimental treatment to help women carry babies to term.

"Recurrent pregnancy loss affects 2-5 percent of couples trying to conceive, and specific causes are only identified in 50 percent of these patients," says Kelle H. Moley, M.D., associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology and primary investigator of the study. "Past uncontrolled studies have suggested that Metformin can prevent recurrent miscarriages. Our study will determine if it does and provide some new insight on the mechanism responsible."

Women between 21 and 34 years of age are eligible for the six-month study. Participants will be randomly assigned to either receive Metformin or an inactive pill twice a day. Once a participant becomes pregnant, she will receive early prenatal care, including weekly blood work and ultrasounds, free of charge.

Ten to 15 percent of women who take Metformin experience side effects such as nausea and diarrhea. For more information, please contact Alice at (314) 286-2419.

The full-time and volunteer faculty of Washington University School of Medicine are the physicians and surgeons of Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Children's hospitals. The School of Medicine is one of the leading medical research, teaching and patient care institutions in the nation, currently ranked second in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. Through its affiliations with Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Children's hospitals, the School of Medicine is linked to BJC HealthCare.