A Prospective, Multicenter, Clinical Trial Evaluating the Safety and Effectiveness of the Cerene Device to Treat Heavy Menstrual Bleeding

Endometrial Cryoablation for the Treatment of Heavy Menstrual Bleeding: 36-Month Outcomes from the CLARITY Study

Study Objective

To examine long-term outcomes from the pivotal study that evaluated the safety and effectiveness of the Cerene^® Cryotherapy Device (Channel Medsystems, Berkeley, CA) in premenopausal women with heavy menstrual bleeding due to benign causes who have completed childbearing.

Methods

The prospective, multicenter, single-arm, open-label study had eight sites in the USA, one in Mexico, and two in Canada. Inclusion criteria included uterine sound ≤10 cm, endometrial cavity length 2.5 to 6.5 cm, age 25 to 50 years, a pictorial blood loss assessment chart score of ≥150, no submucosal myomata and/or uterine obstruction, distortion, or abnormality. A total of 242 subjects underwent a 2.5-minute cryoablation. Long-term follow-up visits were conducted at Month 24 and Month 36. Data collected included gynecological adverse events, description of last menstrual period, contraception status, self-report of pregnancy, medical or surgical interventions to treat abnormal uterine bleeding, satisfaction, recommendation, and quality of life (QoL). QoL outcomes were measured with the Menorrhagia Impact Questionnaire (MIQ) and the Premenstrual Symptoms Impact Survey (PMSIS™).

Results

201 subjects completed their Month 36 final study visit. Subject outcomes were comparable to those at Month 12. Eighty-nine percent of subjects reported amenorrhea, a lighter-than-normal, or normal period, 91% of subjects had no or slight limitations in MIQ measured activities, and 85% reported premenstrual symptoms at a low frequency. Eighty-five percent of the subjects were satisfied or very satisfied. The cumulative incidence of hysterectomy was 5% and reintervention was 8.7%. Forty-nine gynecologic adverse events (AE) were reported; one non-serious AE, postcoital bleeding, was reported as related to the procedure. No serious device-related or procedure-related AEs were reported.

Conclusion

Study data demonstrate that the positive effects of Cerene Cryotherapy Device treatment are sustained through Month 36 and that the risks associated with the device and procedure are low (ClinicalTrials.gov; NCT02842736).

Hysteroscopic Access and Uterine Cavity Evaluation 12 Months Post-Endometrial Ablation with the Cerene® Cryotherapy Device

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To evaluate if physical access and the ability to systematically assess the post-ablation uterine cavity were preserved at 12 months after endometrial ablation with the Cerene® Cryotherapy Device (Channel Medsystems®, Emeryville, CA).

DESIGN

A prospective, multi-center, single-arm study.

SETTING

In the clinic at 8 US sites and outpatient hospital setting at 2 sites in Canada and 1 site in Mexico.

PATIENTS OR PARTICIPANTS

230 of 242 subjects post-ablation continued in the study at the Month 12 visit. 223 subjects were available for a diagnostic hysteroscopic evaluation.

INTERVENTIONS

Subjects who had previously been treated with a 2.5-minute cryoablation of the endometrium utilizing the Cerene® Device underwent a diagnostic hysteroscopy at the Month 12 follow-up visit.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

The uterine cavity was accessible in 220 of 223 subjects (98.7%) and not accessible in 3 (1.3%), due to pain (n=2) and cervical stenosis (n=1). Visualization of the uterine cavity was possible in 204 of 220 subjects (92.7%) with one or both tubal ostia identified in 89.2% (182/204) of subjects. Both tubal ostia were visible in 160 of 204 subjects (78.4%) and one ostium in 22 of 204 subjects (10.8%). The cavity was not visualized in the remaining 16 of 220 subjects (7.2%) due to intrauterine adhesions (n=14), technical difficulties (n=1), or menstruation (n=1). In 95.6% (195/204) of subjects where the cavity was visualized, the hysteroscopic view was judged adequate to evaluate the uterine cavity for pathologic change. No significant complications occurred during the hysteroscopic evaluations.

CONCLUSION

This is the largest study to date conducted to hysteroscopically evaluate the post-ablation uterine cavity. Uterine cavity assessment with in-office hysteroscopy one year after the use of the Cerene® Cryotherapy Device is attainable, enabling both diagnostic and therapeutic procedures within the endometrial cavity.