Volunteers needed for new research study
Mothers-to-be carrying babies with suspected spina bifida are being offered the chance of an improved diagnosis as part of the new phase of an ASBAH-funded research study.
Professor of Radiology, Paul Griffiths is looking for volunteers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland to have MRI scans for detailed monitoring of foetal spine and brain abnormalities.
Local associations and ASBAH area advisers are being asked to speak to pregnant women carrying a baby, which has been diagnosed with spina bifida, who may be interested in having a more detailed scan.
Professor Griffiths, who is based in the Academic Unit of Radiology at Sheffield's Royal Hallamshire Hospital, has been carrying out in utero Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) for the past six years.
His studies have revealed that in most cases of spine and brain abnormalities, MR imaging provides vital, detailed information that can help.
In a recent trial of 100 pregnancies, MRI scans gave a 48% improvement in diagnostic accuracy.
In his latest research series, which is part funded by ASBAH, Professor Griffiths plans to scan the foetuses at between 20 and 24 weeks. If the pregnancy continues, the women will be invited back for a repeat examination at around 30-32 weeks.
Any suitable mothers-to-be, whose unborn baby has been diagnosed as having spina bifida and who are interested in taking part in this research will be referred to Professor Griffiths via ASBAH's Senior Medical Adviser Rosemary Batchelor.
Professor Griffiths will then make contact with their obstetrician before arranging to see them. The referring hospital will not be charged for the MRI scan and ASBAH will cover the volunteer's travelling expenses to Sheffield. The information gathered by the MRI scan will be sent to the mother's obstetrician.
Since the project was launched six years ago, more than 350 pregnant women have been scanned, as part of clinical work as well as research studies.
Now Professor Griffiths is looking forward to expanding his caseload after hearing that he has been awarded a £2 million grant to buy a second MRI scanner, purely for foetal imaging.
Professor Griffiths said: “We hope the new scanner will be up and running in 2006 and this will enable us to improve our capacity to take on more clinical cases and research studies.
Andrew Russell, ASBAH's Executive Director, commented, “This important research has already pushed forward MRI techniques to provide far more information to expectant mums. We want to see this work brought widely into clinical practice. I hope that many women prenatally diagnosed with a spina bifida pregnancy will consider going to Sheffield, as it will help the research and give further information to the patient.”
MR imaging: what are the advantages?
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) gives important extra information over ultrasound when assessing the severity of foetal abnormalities such as spina bifida and hydrocephalus. This information is often useful for mangement of difficult cases.
In a report published last year, Professor Griffths and his team showed that MR imaging scored an impressive 48 per cent improvement in diagnostic accuracy over ultrasound scans.
The Academic Unit of Radiology, University of Sheffield, based at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital, ran trials looking at 100 foetuses with suspected central nervous system abnormalities.
The foetuses were scanned by both ultrasound and MR imaging and the results were compared.
Professor Griffiths revealed: “Until now there have been few large studies which have performed detailed follow-up in order to confirm or refute the antenatal diagnosis.
“So we were very pleased when our study revealed that the MR imaging gave a 48% improvement in diagnostic accuracy.”
In 35 of the 100 cases in the study, MR imaging provided extra information, which either changed the diagnosis, or provided additional information which could have altered management.
In 11 cases where MRI changed the diagnosis, the brain was described as abnormal on ultrasound but was shown to be normal on MRI.
Professor Griffiths said: “If we have achieved anything so far, we have been able to show that in a number of cases that termination of pregnancy was not necessary.”
He added: “MRI is a powerful tool for investigating the foetal brain and spine. Having this detailed clinical information can alter management of the conditions, and also enables the parents to make a more informed choice.
The clarity of the images also makes it much easier for medical staff to explain to parents exactly what the abnormalities are.”
For further information contact info@asbah.org