MedPath

Prevention of Preterm Birth in Pregnant Women at Risk Identified by Ultrasound: Evaluation of Two Treatment Strategies

Phase 4
Completed
Conditions
Early Onset of Delivery Before 37 Weeks
Interventions
Registration Number
NCT01643980
Lead Sponsor
Dra.Cristina Martinez Payo
Brief Summary

The preterm birth is considered as a main problem in the modern obstetrics, being the responsible of greatest of 50% neonatal morbimortality and heavy costs. Despite the significant medical advances, the rate of prematurity has not declined over the past 40 years and even continues to rise in the developed countries. In order to decrease the prematurity is necessary that two premises: to identify the pregnant women at risk of preterm birth, and dispose of useful measures aimed at prolonging the pregnancy and therefore avoid preterm delivery. The investigators propose a clinical trial with the objective to identify effective strategies to reduce the premature birth (34 weeks and earlier) rate in the population of pregnant women at risk for premature birth, which will be identified by ultrasound during the second trimester of their pregnancy.

The investigators intend to compare two accepted strategies: administration of progesterone (vaginally) or the placement of vaginal pessaries. These 2 strategies are affordable, easy to apply, and they present very few maternal-fetal secondary effects.

Detailed Description

The preterm birth is considered as a main problem in the modern obstetrics, being the responsible of greatest of 50% neonatal morbimortality and heavy costs. Despite the significant medical advances, the rate of prematurity has not declined over the past 40 years and even continues to rise in the developed countries. In order to decrease the prematurity is necessary that two premises: to identify the pregnant women at risk of preterm birth, and dispose of useful measures aimed at prolonging the pregnancy and therefore avoid preterm delivery. Since 1990, many published articles describe the sonographic measurement of the cervix from the week 16 as method of population screening to detect women at risk. Several studies provide evidence about an inverse relationship between the cervical length and the risk of preterm delivery. For this reason, if there is an effective intervention for patients with cervix short (about \< 25mm), made this measure in the middle of the second term, the investigators could reduce the prematurity. Regarding possible therapeutic strategies, recent published data demonstrate the effective of vaginal progesterone and cervical pessary in this population. However, both treatments have never been compared and none of the two strategies are indicated in this population. Therefore it results necessary to compare both treatments in order to establish clinical recommendations. The investigators propose a clinical trial to compare two accepted strategies: administration of progesterone (vaginally) or the placement of vaginal pessaries in order to reduce the premature birth (34 weeks and earlier) rate in the population of pregnant women at risk for premature birth, which will be identified by ultrasound during the second trimester of their pregnancy.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
Female
Target Recruitment
254
Inclusion Criteria
  • Pregnant women with short cervix (=< 25 mm) identified by use of routine transvaginal ultrasonography at 19-22 weeks of gestation.
  • Single pregnancy
  • Women older than 18 year-old
  • Women sign informed consent according GCP and local legislation
  • Gestational age at randomization between 20+1 and 23+6 weeks.
Exclusion Criteria
  • Major fetal abnormalities
  • Major uterine abnormalities
  • Placenta praevia during current pregnancy
  • Vaginal bleeding or ruptured membranes in the moment of randomization
  • Cervical cerclage in situ
  • History of cone biopsy
  • Allergic to peanuts
  • Contraindication for Progesterone usage.
  • Active treatment with Progesterone at randomization.
  • History of 3 or more premature labor.
  • If in the investigator's opinion, there are findings on physical examination, abnormalities in the results of clinical analyzes or other medical factors, social or psycho-social that could negatively influence.
  • Women unable to give the informed consent

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Vaginal micronized progesteroneVaginal micronized progesterone200 mg vaginal route per day
Cervical pessaryCervical pessaryCervical pessary certified by European Conformity (CE0482, MED/CERT ISO 9003/EN 46003;Dr Arabin, lower larger diameter 70 mm, height 30 mm,and upper smaller diameter 32 mm)
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Proportion of spontaneous preterm birth before 34 weeks of gestationup to 11 weeks (from date of randomization until delivery)
Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Proportion of spontaneous preterm birth before 37 weeks of gestationup to 17 weeks (from date of randomization until delivery)
Proportion of Spontaneous preterm birth before 28 weeks of gestationup to 8 weeks (from date of randomization until delivery)
Rate of premature rupture of membranes before 34 weeks of gestationup to 11 weeks (from date of randomization until delivery)
Weight at birthup to 21 weeks (from date of randomization until delivery)
Rate of fetal and neonatal mortalityFrom date of randomization until the date of delivery, assessed up 21 weeks
Symptomatic vaginal infections during treatment periodFrom date of randomization until the date of delivery, assessed up 21 weeks
Proportion of participants with adverse eventsFrom date of randomization until the date of delivery, assessed up 21 weeks
Rate of Chorioamnionitis during third termFrom date of randomization until the date of delivery, assessed up 21 weeks
Need of admission because of premature labor before 34 weeks of gestationup to 14 weeks (from date of randomization until delivery)
Rate of neonatal morbidityFrom date of randomization until the date of delivery, assessed up 21 weeks

Trial Locations

Locations (27)

University Hospital San Juan de Alicante

🇪🇸

Sant Joan d'Alacant, Alicante, Spain

University Hospital Príncipe de Asturias

🇪🇸

Alcalá de Henarés, Madrid, Spain

Igualada Hospital

🇪🇸

Igualada, Barcelona, Spain

University Hospital Madrid Monte Principe

🇪🇸

Boadilla del Monte, Madrid, Spain

University Hospital Puerta de Hierro

🇪🇸

Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain

University Hospital Quiron Dexeus

🇪🇸

Barcelona, Spain

Palamos Hospital

🇪🇸

Gerona, Palamos, Spain

University Hospital Ramón y Cajal

🇪🇸

Madrid, Spain

University Hospital de Getafe

🇪🇸

Getafe, Madrid, Spain

University Hospital Fundación de Alcorcón

🇪🇸

Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain

University Hospital Fuenlabrada

🇪🇸

Fuenlabrada, Madrid, Spain

Hospital Infanta Elena

🇪🇸

Valdemoro, Madrid, Spain

University Hospital Severo Ochoa

🇪🇸

Leganés, Madrid, Spain

Hospital Infanta Sofía

🇪🇸

San Sebastián de los Reyes, Madrid, Spain

University Hospital Mostoles

🇪🇸

Móstoles, Madrid, Spain

University Hospital Rey Juan Carlos I

🇪🇸

Mostoles, Madrid, Spain

Ciudad Real General University Hospital

🇪🇸

Ciudad Real, Spain

Guadalajara General University Hospital

🇪🇸

Guadalajara, Spain

Hospital Universitario de Donostia

🇪🇸

Donostia, San Sebastian, Spain

Sanitas La Zarzuela Hospital

🇪🇸

Madrid, Spain

Valladolid Clinic Universitary Hospital

🇪🇸

Valladolid, Spain

Sanitas La Moraleja Hospital

🇪🇸

Madrid, Spain

University Hospital Quirón Málaga

🇪🇸

Málaga, Spain

University Hospital Miguel Servet

🇪🇸

Zaragoza, Spain

University Hospital de León

🇪🇸

León, Spain

Burgos University Hospital

🇪🇸

Burgos, Spain

University Hospital Rio Hortega

🇪🇸

Valladolid, Spain

© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved by MedPath