Does Vitamins C and E Supplementation of After Preterm Rupture of Membranes Prolong the Duration of Latency? A Prospective Randomized Controlled Study

Preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) is a complication affecting 3-4.5% of all pregnancies. PPROM is the main known cause of preterm delivery and is associated worldwide with increased rates of neonatal and maternal morbidity and mortality. Despite its frequency, very little is known about its pathophysiologic mechanisms. Mechanical strength is provided to fetal membranes by an extracellular collagen matrix. Types I, II, III and IV are the main collagen types in these membranes. Studies have shown that total collagen content is reduced in the amnion of women with preterm PROM.

Vitamin C is involved in the metabolism of collagen and has been proposed to play an important role in the maintenance of the integrity of the chorioamniotic membranes. Vitamin E may play a synergic role with vitamin C, increasing the antioxidant capacity against reactive oxygen. Woods et al hypothesized that an increase in dietary consumption or supplementation of vitamin C and E during pregnancy might reduce the risk of that portion of preterm PROM that may be mediated by oxidative injury to fetal membranes. Plessinger et al report that pretreatment of human amnion-chorion with vitamins C and E prevents hypochlorous acid-induced membrane damage.

Borna et al. reported a randomized, double-blind controlled study of vitamin C and E supplementation, in which women with preterm rupture of membranes and singleton gestations at 26 to 34 weeks were randomized to vitamin C and E supplementation or placebo. Supplementation with vitamin C and E were associated with longer latency before delivery. However, the sample size in this study was very small.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of supplementation with vitamins C and E after preterm premature rupture of membranes. We hypothesised that supplementation vitamins C and E may be effective in decreasing oxidative stress and increasing the latency period.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Preterm Premature Rupture of Membranes
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: vitamine C and E

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 244
• Phase: Phase 3

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey
  • Bakırkoy
    • İstanbul, Bakırkoy, Turkey, 34142
      • Bakırkoy Women and Children Hospital

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 16 years to 38 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: Female

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

Patients with a single nonanomalous fetus and PPROM at ≥ 24.0 and ≤ 34.0 weeks' gestation.

Exclusion Criteria:

fetus with anomalies, chorioamnionitis, experienced PPROM within 14 days of either amniocentesis or cervical cerclage placement, multiple gestation, obstetrical indication for immediate delivery, delivery within 24 h of admission intrauterine fetal death at the time of presentation.

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Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: vitaminCE; Eligible and consenting women were randomly assigned to capsules containing a combination of 1,000 mg vitamin C (ascorbic acid) and 400 international units of vitamin E (RRR alpha tocopherol acetate)	Drug: vitamine C and E; Eligible and consenting women were randomly assigned to capsules containing a combination of 1,000 mg vitamin C (ascorbic acid) and 400 international units of vitamin E (RRR alpha tocopherol acetate)
No Intervention: no drug

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
latency until delivery	The primary outcome was the latency until delivery	7 days

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
postpartum endometritis rate, early onset neonatal sepsis rate,	Other outcomes were the birth weight, mode of delivery, occurrence of clinical chorioamnionitis, postpartum endometritis, early onset neonatal sepsis, grade 3-4 intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH), stage 2-3 necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), admission to intensive care unit (ICU), duration of stay in an intensive care unit and respiratory distress syndrome.	days

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Erzincan Military Hospital

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: January 1, 2011
• Primary Completion (Actual): November 1, 2011
• Study Completion (Actual): November 1, 2011

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 20, 2010
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 23, 2010
• First Posted (Estimate): December 24, 2010

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): February 7, 2012
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 6, 2012
• Last Verified: February 1, 2012

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Wounds and Injuries; Pregnancy Complications; Obstetric Labor Complications; Obstetric Labor, Premature; Rupture; Premature Birth; Fetal Membranes, Premature Rupture; Physiological Effects of Drugs; Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action; Protective Agents; Micronutrients; Vitamins; Antioxidants; Ascorbic Acid
• Other Study ID Numbers: gungorduk10