Enteral Vitamin A for improving respiratory outcomes (EVARO) study

The EVARO study is a Phase 3 clinical trial designed to evaluate the efficacy of oral Vitamin A supplement in decreasing the risk of chronic lung disease associated with prematurity called bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in babies born before 28 weeks gestation.

Previously, alternative routes of giving Vitamin A to very small babies have included intramuscular injections and an intravenous line. However, the painful nature of intramuscular injections and increased risk of infection from the intravenous line have limited the widespread use of the Vitamin A supplement.

Oral vitamin A, especially in a fat soluble form, is poorly absorbed by preterm babies and therefore often less effective.

However, by giving infants water-soluble Vitamin A through oral feeds we aim to overcome these limitations and reduce the incidence and severity of BPD.

The two main goals for this study are to:

• evaluate the efficacy of oral, water-soluble Vitamin A supplement in reducing the severity of BPD
• examine if we can use saliva instead of blood to assess Vitamin A levels in babies

The research team lead for this project is Dr Abhijeet Rakshasbhuvankar, a clinical senior lecturer at UWA’s Medical School and a consultant neonatologist at King Edward Memorial Hospital.

Significant funding has been received from the Channel 7 Telethon Trust in support of this clinical trial.