Identification of Spontaneous Delivery Markers (TrophY2)

Markers of Fetal Membranes Remodelling in Cervicovaginal Fluid and Delivery

The investigators project aims to identify, in pregnant women, discriminating molecules to allow an early detection of women who will spontaneously deliver prematurely, suitable in routine clinical practice.

Human parturition is tightly correlated with hormonal changes at the maternal-fetal interface during pregnancy, that may control cell interactions and fetal membranes (the water bag) remodelling. Precocious remodelling may lead to a premature onset of labor, associated or not with premature rupture of membrane whether the cause is infectious or not.

In this regard, remodelled fetal membranes overlying the cervix may discharge signals that could be detectable in cervico-vaginal fluids and serve as biomarkers of the imminence of delivery. Such information on delivery timing may be of great importance for an adequate prediction that would change drastically the management of threatening preterm delivery.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Preterm Labor (24 GA - 32 GA)
• Intervention / Treatment: Procedure: Cervicovaginal swab

Detailed Description

Prematurity is a major Public Health concern in developed countries, since it is the first cause of perinatal morbi-mortality and of cerebral palsy in early childhood. Premature birth rate has risen by 36 percent over the last 25 years to reach 7.2% in 2010 in France. Antenatal corticosteroids administration before 34 weeks and in utero transfer in high-qualified maternity wards are ones of the rare antenatal therapies recommended to improve neonatal complications of preterm delivery. Early identification of women with high risk of preterm birth should be helpful to implement those prophylactic measures. Moreover discriminating true preterm labor (PTL) vs. symptoms of PTL in women, who will finally deliver at term, would reduce unnecessary hospitalizations and prescriptions.

During human gestation, fetal membranes (the "water bag") encompass the amnion, facing the amniotic cavity, and the chorion, lining the maternal decidua and comprising trophoblast cells. Membranes usually remain intact until their spontaneous rupture, close to the first stage of labor at term. Often seen as a simple inert shell, with a role of "airbag" for the developing fetus, the membranes provide yet a large surface of interaction between maternal and fetal tissues and function as a transient endocrine organ with immune properties.

Specific remodelling of the membranes is observed at term prior to delivery. During this remodelling, drastic changes in extracellular matrix occur, with the secretion of specific molecules. The investigators hypothesize that premature fetal membranes remodelling occurs weeks prior to actual birth and may be able to be detected in women at risk for preterm birth, i.e. presenting signs of PTL. This study investigates if the detection of fetal membranes remodelling in cervico-vaginal fluids can accurately identify those women at greatest risk for preterm birth. A prospective cohort of pregnant women will before 32 weeks of gestation with symptoms of preterm labor be enrolled. As negative controls, healthy pregnant women at 12-15 or 35-36 weeks of gestation or non-pregnant women will be recruited. As positive controls, healthy pregnant woman at term (over 38 weeks of gestation) will be enrolled. The main outcome assessed is preterm delivery.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 238
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• France
  • Paris, France, 75014
    • Maternité Port Royal-Cochin

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

- Singleton pregnancy, monitored in Port Royal or secondarily transferred, between 24 and 32 GA. Hospitalization for preterm labor (cervix < 25 mm at transvaginal cervical ultrasound) or -Singleton pregnancy, monitered in Port Royal between 15-16 weeks of gestation, without complication.

or - Singleton pregnancy, monitered in Port Royal between 35-36 weeks of gestation, without complication.

or - Healthy woman, no pregnancy.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Minor
• Not affiliated to health insurance
• Persons under guardianship or judicial protection
• Infection with HIV, Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) or Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)
• Diabetes or chronic inflammatory disease
• Carrier of B streptococcus
• Cervical strapping
• Fetus with chromosomal abnormalities
• Infections
• Premature rupture of membrane

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Non pregnant women; Healthy pregnancy : women 15-16 weeks of gestation, at 35-36 weeks of gestation, and >37 weeks of gestation and planed cesarean prior labor	Procedure: Cervicovaginal swab; Sample of cervicovaginal secretions made by the surgical team using a sterile swab introduced directly into the posterior fornix of vagina for one minute during the insertion of the urinary catheter
Experimental: Preterm Labor; Pregnant women admitted for preterm labor	Procedure: Cervicovaginal swab; Sample of cervicovaginal secretions made by the surgical team using a sterile swab introduced directly into the posterior fornix of vagina for one minute during the insertion of the urinary catheter
Experimental: Healthy pregnancy; Healthy pregnancy : women 15-16 weeks of gestation, at 35-36 weeks of gestation, and >37 weeks of gestation and planed cesarean prior labor	Procedure: Cervicovaginal swab; Sample of cervicovaginal secretions made by the surgical team using a sterile swab introduced directly into the posterior fornix of vagina for one minute during the insertion of the urinary catheter

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Delivery	Assessed among patients in preterm labor between 24 - 32 GA	until Day 14

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Delivery before 34 GA	Assessed among patients in preterm labor between 24 - 32 GA	until Day 14
composite Prenatal maternal care	Assessed by : number of hospitalization,; total duration of hospitalization for preterm labor,; use of tocolytic treatment, administration of prenatal corticotherapy,; time between the last injection of corticosteroids and birth	until Delivery
composite Neonatal outcome	Assessed by : birth weight,; Apgar score at 5 minutes,; arterial cord pH,; transfer to neonatology unit or neonatal intensive care,; death,; In case of transfer neonatal unit or neonatal intensive care : duration of hospitalization, use of respiratory assistance	At Birth
composite Obstetric outcome	Assessed by : pregnancy term,; way to start labor (spontaneous, induction, caesarean before labor); duration of labor,; maternal fever,; antibiotics during labor,; mode of delivery,; indications of cesarean	At Delivery

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris
• Collaborators: URC-CIC Paris Descartes Necker Cochin
• Investigators: Study Director: Celine MEHATS, PhD, INSERM U1016 - Cochin Hospital Public Hospitals of Paris

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Larroque B, Ancel PY, Marret S, Marchand L, Andre M, Arnaud C, Pierrat V, Roze JC, Messer J, Thiriez G, Burguet A, Picaud JC, Breart G, Kaminski M; EPIPAGE Study group. Neurodevelopmental disabilities and special care of 5-year-old children born before 33 weeks of gestation (the EPIPAGE study): a longitudinal cohort study. Lancet. 2008 Mar 8;371(9615):813-20. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(08)60380-3.
• McLaren J, Malak TM, Bell SC. Structural characteristics of term human fetal membranes prior to labour: identification of an area of altered morphology overlying the cervix. Hum Reprod. 1999 Jan;14(1):237-41. doi: 10.1093/humrep/14.1.237.
• Malak TM, Bell SC. Structural characteristics of term human fetal membranes: a novel zone of extreme morphological alteration within the rupture site. Br J Obstet Gynaecol. 1994 May;101(5):375-86. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1994.tb11908.x.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): December 14, 2014
• Primary Completion (Actual): November 14, 2017
• Study Completion (Actual): April 16, 2018

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: August 7, 2014
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 25, 2014
• First Posted (Estimated): August 26, 2014

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimated): December 11, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 4, 2025
• Last Verified: December 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Preterm labor; cervicovaginal secretions; markers of fetal membranes remodelling; Multiplex test
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Urogenital Diseases; Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications; Obstetric Labor Complications; Pregnancy Complications; Obstetric Labor, Premature
• Other Study ID Numbers: P140502