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Pessary Versus Progesterone in Singletons

Not Applicable
Conditions
Preterm Birth
Short Cervix
Interventions
Device: Cervical pessary
Registration Number
NCT04300322
Lead Sponsor
Mỹ Đức Hospital
Brief Summary

This study compares the effectiveness of cervical pessary to vaginal progesterone for prevention of preterm birth in women with singleton pregnancies and a cervix ≤25 mm.

Participants will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive cervical pessary or vaginal progesterone.

Detailed Description

This open label, multi-center, randomized controlled trial aims to compare the effectiveness of cervical pessary to vaginal progesterone for prevention of PTB in women with singleton pregnancies and a cervix ≤25 mm.

All women at 16 0/7 to 22 0/7 weeks with singleton pregnancies will undergo cervical length (CL) measurement and digital examination at screening routinely. Women with a CL ≤25 mm will be eligible for the study.

Subjects meeting the study criteria will be randomized into two groups: (1) treated with cervical pessary (Arabin) or (2) treated with 200 mg vaginal progesterone, once daily.

After written informed consent, women will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive a cervical pessary or progesterone. Assignment to treatment allocation will be done via a web portal hosted by HOPE Research Center, Vietnam. The randomization schedule will be computer-generated at HOPE Research Center, with a permuted random block size of 2, 4 or 6. Blinding will not be possible due to the nature of interventions.

For those who randomised to pessary group, a pessary certified by European Conformity (Arabin®, Dr Arabin GmbH \& Co KG, Germany) will be inserted through the vagina, upward around the cervix by 2-4 senior clinicians, who had experienced with pessary used at each site, within one week of randomization.

Women allocated to progesterone group will be receiving 200 mg vaginal progesterone, purchased from the manufacturer (Cyclogest® 200 mg, Actavis, United Kingdom), once daily at bedtime. They will be given a monitoring sheet and instructed to note everyday the date of using.

In case of premature rupture of membranes, active vaginal bleeding, other signs of preterm labor or severe patient discomfort, the pessary may be removed. If participants develop (threatened) preterm labor, they will receive treatment per local protocol. Intervention will be stopped at 370/7 weeks of gestation or at delivery.

Along side with this trial, another study will be conducted to determine how changes in peripheral blood and cervical inflammatory markers are impacted by progesterone versus pessary. Because of that, participants will be asked to take 5 ml blood sample and cervical-vaginal discharge sampling at the time of randomization, 4-8 weeks after randomization and before giving birth.

A cost-effectiveness analysis will also be conducted alongside this RCT. Data will be reported in a separated paper.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
UNKNOWN
Sex
Female
Target Recruitment
804
Inclusion Criteria
  • Singleton pregnancies
  • Cervical length ≤ 25 mm, measured by TVS at the second-trimester ultrasonography (16 0/7-22 0/7 weeks of gestation)
  • Not participating in any other study which has intervention on maternity or fetus at the same time
  • Provision of written informed consent to participate as shown by a signature on the patient consent form.
Exclusion Criteria
  • Cervical dilation with visible amniotic membranes or amniotic membranes prolapsed into the vagina
  • Major congenital abnormalities of the fetus
  • Presence of severe vaginal discharge
  • Presence of vaginitis or cervicitis
  • Presence of vaginal bleeding
  • Preterm premature rupture of membranes
  • Premature labor without ruptured membrane at the time of screening
  • Suspected chorioamnionitis
  • Unable to have cervical pessary inserted
  • Cerclage or pessary in place

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Cervical pessaryCervical pessaryCervical pessary (Arabin) will be inserted to participants at 16-22 weeks and removed at 37 weeks of pregnancy or in case of premature rupture of membranes, signs of preterm labour or patient severe discomfort.
Vaginal ProgesteroneVaginal ProgesteroneVaginal progesterone (Cyclogest 200 mg) once a day will be used, from 16-22 to 37 weeks of pregnancy or in case of premature rupture of membranes, signs of preterm labour or patient severe discomfort.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Rate of preterm birth <37 weeks of gestation by any causeFrom date of randomisation until 36 6/7 weeks

Birth before 37 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Gestational age at deliveryAt birth

Gestational age at delivery

Time from randomization to deliveryFrom date of randomisation until the date of delivery.

Time interval between randomisation and delivery

Rate of preterm birth before 28 weeks of gestationFrom date of randomisation until 27 6/7 weeks

Birth before 28 weeks

Rate of preterm birth before 34 weeks of gestationFrom date of randomisation until 33 6/7 weeks

Birth before 34 weeks

Rate of spontaneous preterm birth <28 weeksFrom date of randomisation until 27 6/7 weeks

Birth spontaneously before 28 weeks' gestation, including preterm spontaneous rupture of membranes, preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM)

Rate of spontaneous preterm birth <34 weeksFrom date of randomisation until 33 6/7 weeks

Birth spontaneously before 34 weeks' gestation, including preterm spontaneous rupture of membranes, preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM)

Rate of spontaneous preterm birth <37 weeksFrom date of randomisation until 36 6/7 weeks

Birth spontaneously before 37 weeks' gestation, including preterm spontaneous rupture of membranes, preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM)

Rate of iatrogenic preterm birth <28 weeksFrom date of randomisation until 27 6/7 weeks

Birth non-spontaneously before 28 weeks' gestation

Rate of iatrogenic preterm birth <34 weeksFrom date of randomisation until 33 6/7 weeks

Birth non-spontaneously before 34 weeks' gestation

Rate of iatrogenic preterm birth <37 weeksFrom date of randomisation until 36 6/7 weeks

Birth non-spontaneously before 37 weeks' gestation

Rate of onset of laborAt birth

Spontaneous, labor induction, elective C-section

Rate of modes of deliveryAt birth

Vaginal delivery, C-section (elective, suspected fetal distress, non-progressive labor)

Rate of all live births at any gestational ageAt birth

The birth of at least one newborn, regardless of gestational age, that exhibits any sign of life such as respiration, heartbeat, umbilical pulsation or movement of voluntary muscles

Rate of use of tocolytic drugsFrom 24 0/7 to 36 6/7 weeks' gestation

Use of any tocolytic drug to treat preterm labour

Rate of use of antenatal corticosteroidsFrom 24 0/7 to 36 6/7 weeks' gestation

Use of antenatal corticosteroids to prevent respiratory distressed syndrome

Rate of use of MgSO4 for neuroprotectionFrom 28 0/7 to 31 6/7 weeks' gestation

Use of MgSO4 for neuroprotection

Rate of preterm premature rupture of membranesFrom randomization to less than 37 weeks, up to 21 weeks

Prelabour rupture of membranes and gestational age less than 37 weeks

Length of maternal admission for preterm labor (days)From randomization to 37 week

Number of admission days for treatment of preterm labour

Birthweight (mean)At birth

Weight of baby born

Birthweight <1500 gAt birth

Weight of baby born \<1500g

Birthweight <2500 gAt birth

Weight of baby born \<2500g

Rate of congenital anomaliesAt birth

Any congenital anomalies detected in baby born

5-min Apgar scoreAt birth

Apgar score at 5 minute after birth. 5-minute Apgar score of 7-10 as reassuring, a score of 4-6 as moderately abnormal, and a score of 0-3 as low in the term infant and late-preterm infant.

5-min Apgar score <7At birth

Apgar score at 5 minute after birth \<7. An increased relative risk of cerebral palsy.

Rate of admission to neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)Up to 28 days of life after the due day

Admission to neonatal intensive care unit of baby

Length of NICU admissionUp to 28 days of life after the due day

Number of admission days to NICU

Rate of death before dischargeUp to 28 days of life after the due day

Death of newborn before discharge from nursery

Rate of neonatal deathUp to 28 days of life after the due day

Death of a live-born infant within the first 28 days of life after the due day

Rate of perinatal deathAfter 20 weeks of gestation to 28 days of life after the due day

Intrauterine fetal death after 20 weeks of gestation, or neonatal death

Rate of chorioamnionitisFrom randomization to delivery, up to 28 weeks

Intraamniotic infection

Rate of maternal mortalityFrom randomization to delivery, up to 28 weeks

Death of the mother

Rate of stillbirthAfter 20 weeks of gestation until the date of delivery

Baby born with no signs of life at or after 20 weeks' gestation

Rate of composite of poor perinatal outcomesUp to 28 days of life after the due day

Foetal or neonatal death, intraventricular haemorrhage, respiratory distress syndrome, necrotizing enterocolitis or neonatal sepsis

Rate of respiratory distress syndromeUp to 28 days of life after the due day

presence of tachypnoea \>60/minute, sternal recession and expiratory grunting, need for supplemental oxygen, and a radiological picture of diffuse reticulogranular shadowing with an air bronchogram

Rate of periventricular haemorrhage II B or worseUp to 28 days of life after the due day

Repeated neonatal cranial ultrasound by the neonatologist according to the guidelines on neuro-imaging described by de Vries et al

Rate of necrotizing enterocolitisUp to 28 days of life after the due day

Diagnosed according to Bell

Rate of proven sepsisUp to 28 days of life after the due day

The combination of clinical signs and positive blood cultures

Rate of maternal vaginal side effectsFrom date of randomisation until delivery, which is up to 24 weeks

Including vaginal discharge, vaginal bleeding, vaginal infection (confirmed by vaginal discharge culture)

Vaginal pain ScoreFrom date of randomisation until delivery, which is up to 24 weeks

Evaluated by VAS numerical rating scale. Assessments with units on a Scale.

Rate of pessary repositioningFrom date of randomisation until delivery, which is up to 24 weeks

After pessary initial placement, requiring to reposition the pessary by any reasons

Rate of maternal cervical side effectsFrom date of randomisation until delivery, which is up to 24 weeks

Including necrosis or rupture of the cervix, cervical laceration

Trial Locations

Locations (3)

Quang Ninh Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital

🇻🇳

Quang Ninh, Vietnam

My Duc Phu Nhuan Hospital

🇻🇳

Ho Chi Minh City, Phu Nhuan, Vietnam

Mỹ Đức Hospital

🇻🇳

Ho Chi Minh City, Tan Binh, Vietnam

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