The ASPIRE Trial - Aiming for Safe Pregnancies by Reducing Malaria and Infections of the Reproductive Tract

Effects of Metronidazole Plus Intermittent Preventive Treatment of Malaria in Pregnancy on Birth Outcomes: a Randomised Controlled Trial in Zambia

Malaria in pregnancy has devastating consequences for mother and foetus. WHO recommends intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy (IPTp) with sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) for asymptomatic women, but high-level parasite resistance to SP threatens its efficacy. Dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (DP) has the potential to replace SP for IPTp. However, the DP strategy has not been found to be superior to SP for reducing the incidence of low birthweight (LBW), small-for-gestational age (SGA), or preterm birth. This may be the result of sulphadoxine having antibacterial properties; it is derived from sulphonamide, which have been used for decades to treat curable STIs/RTIs. However, SP is unlikely to be curative of STIs/RTIs, nor highly effective against malaria parasites. Thus, combination treatment that contains a more efficacious antimalarial and a more efficacious anti-STI/RTI may produce better birth outcomes. The investigators will therefore determine whether combining SP with metronidazole (MTZ) or, separately, DP with MTZ can improve birth outcomes more than SP alone, potentially paving the way for integrated control strategies that will reduce the dual burden of malaria and curable STIs/RTIs.

This is an individually-randomized, 3-arm, partially-placebo controlled superiority trial comparing the efficacy, safety and tolerance of IPTp-SP versus IPTp-SP with MTZ, or IPTp-DP with MTZ to reduce adverse birth outcomes attributable to malaria and curable STIs/RTIs in 5,436 women in the Nchelenge District of Zambia.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Trichomonas Vaginitis; Bacterial Vaginoses; Pregnancy Malaria
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: IPTp-sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine; Drug: IPTp-sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine plus metronidazole; Drug: IPTp-dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine plus metronidazole

Detailed Description

Title: Effects of metronidazole plus intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in pregnancy on birth outcomes: a randomised controlled trial in Zambia.

Short Title: The ASPIRE Trial - Aiming for Safe Pregnancies by Reducing Malaria and Infections of the Reproductive Tract

Background and rationale: Current interventions in sub-Saharan Africa to reduce the burden of malaria infection and curable STIs/RTIs in pregnancy are inadequate. Malaria infection during pregnancy is responsible for 20% of all stillbirths and 11% of neonatal deaths and is strongly associated with low birthweight (LBW), preterm birth, and small-for-gestational-age (SGA) babies. To protect against adverse pregnancy outcomes in malaria-endemic areas, the WHO recommends providing IPTp-SP to pregnant women at each scheduled ANC visit as directly observed therapy from the second trimester to delivery with at least one month between doses. However, the loss of parasite sensitivity to SP has compromised the efficacy of IPTp.

Apart from syphilis and HIV screening, the WHO recommends the syndromic management of curable STIs/RTIs in low- and middle-income countries involving diagnostic and treatment algorithms based on self-reported symptoms. BV and TV are included in these guidelines. However, syndromic management fails to detect the majority of infections in women for whom STIs/RTIs are most often asymptomatic. This is of genuine consequence in pregnancy. BV is the most common urogenital disorder in the world among women of reproductive age and increases the odds of preterm delivery 1.5-2 times. TV is the most prevalent curable STI in the world and increases the odds of preterm delivery 1.5 times. BV and TV both double the odds of LBW. Although vertical transmission of TV is uncommon, maternal treatment may prevent respiratory or genital infection of the newborn. These adverse pregnancy outcomes could be averted with metronidazole (MTZ); 2g is safe and curative of TV and reduces the recurrence of BV. Importantly, the dose can be provided as directly observed therapy during ANC to ensure compliance.

IPTp-DP is the leading candidate to replace IPTp-SP. A trial in Kenya showed that IPTp-DP was superior to IPTp-SP in preventing clinical malaria episodes and other malaria-related endpoints. Alongside the trial, the investigators will conduct sub-studies that will generate important data about the mechanisms of IPTp-SP action against malaria, BV and TV.

Primary objective: To determine if IPTp with SP or DP, combined with MTZ, for the control of malaria and STIs/RTIs in pregnancy is safe and superior to IPTp with SP alone for reducing adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Hypothesis: IPTp with SP or DP, combined with MTZ, is superior to IPTp with SP alone in preventing adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Overview Study Design: A 3-arm, parallel, partially placebo-controlled, individually randomised, phase-3, superiority trial involving 5,436 (1,812 per arm) pregnant women in ANC facilities of the Nchelenge District of Zambia.

An economic evaluation will be carried out alongside the trial to estimate the cost and cost-effectiveness of interventions. In addition, the acceptability of therapy and the trade-offs between different attributes of the trial arms will be assessed using a discrete choice framework among trial participants and health care providers.

Sub-study 1: Effect of treatment on vaginal and intestinal microbiome and maternal cytokines

Objective: To characterise the effect of treatment across trial arms on the vaginal and intestinal microbiota communities, vaginal and intestinal bacterial loads and soluble markers of inflammation.

Sub-study 2: In vitro testing of sulphadoxine and other antimicrobial agents (Ndola, Zambia)

Objective: To measure the drug sensitivity of several pathogens implicated with WHO syndromes of vaginal discharge, lower abdominal pain, or genital ulcers in the presence of sulphadoxine and other antimicrobial agents.

Sites: The study will be conducted ANC facilities of the Nchelenge District of Zambia where the prior pregnancy cohort was previously carried out, malaria transmission is high, parasite resistance to SP is high, and there is a high prevalence of TV and BV among pregnant women at antenatal care facilities.

Study Population: HIV-negative pregnant women (all gravidae) between 16 and 28 weeks' gestation, as assessed by ultrasound dating who have not yet started IPTp during the current pregnancy.

Study Interventions:

Group 1: IPTp-SP plus MTZ placebo* (control) Group 2: IPTp-SP plus MTZ* Group 3: IPTp-DP plus MTZ*

SP = 3 tablets each containing 500mg sulphadoxine and 25mg pyrimethamine (Day 0) MTZ = 4 tablets each containing 500mg as directly observed therapy (Day 0) DP = 3 tablets of 40mg of dihydroartemisinin and 320mg of piperaquine (Days 0, 1, 2)

*MTZ placebo (Group 1) and active MTZ (Groups 2 and 3) will be co-administered with SP or DP during the enrolment visit (gestational week 16-19) and the last ANC visit prior to delivery (gestational week 30-34)

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 5436
• Phase: Phase 3

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Zambia
  • Luapula Province
    • Nchelenge, Luapula Province, Zambia
      • Nchelenge District Health Facilites

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child; Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Pregnant women
• HIV-negative
• Gestational age from Week 16 and 0 Days to Week 28 and 0 Days (measured by sonography)
• Carrying a single viable pregnancy
• Resident in the study area
• Express willingness to adhere to scheduled and unscheduled study visit procedures, and deliver at a trial facility

Exclusion Criteria:

• HIV-positive
• Carrying multiple pregnancies (twins, etc.),
• Known cardiac ailment
• Severe malformations or nonviable pregnancy observed by ultrasound
• History of receiving IPTp-SP during the current pregnancy
• Known allergy or contraindication to any of the study drugs
• Unable to give consent
• Concurrently participating in any other trial, including prior enrolment in this trial.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Quadruple

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Placebo Comparator: IPTp-SP plus MTZ placebo (control); 3 tablets each containing 500mg sulphadoxine and 25mg pyrimethamine and metronidazole placebo administered as directly observed therapy.	Drug: IPTp-sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine; The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends providing intermittent preventive treatment (IPTp) using sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) to pregnant women during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy to clear placental infection.; Other Names: Fansidar
Active Comparator: IPTp-SP plus MTZ; 3 tablets each containing 500mg sulphadoxine and 25mg pyrimethamine and 4 tablets each containing 500mg metronidazole administered as directly observed therapy .	Drug: IPTp-sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine plus metronidazole; Metronidazole (MTZ) is indicated for the treatment of BV and TV and is also safe to administer in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, and its use with SP or DP may result in better birth outcomes than SP alone. Malaria parasites have developed resistance against SP and the treatment is sub-optimal at clearing malaria infection compared to dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (DP), therapy that has a suitable profile for use in IPTp. This intervention arm can be compared to the intervention arm IPTp-DP plus MTZ to assess whether DP is superior to SP in preventing adverse birth outcomes. This intervention arm will also be compared to the IPTp-SP plus MTZ placebo arm to assess whether the combination of MTZ with IPTp-SP is superior to IPTp-SP alone in reducing adverse pregnancy outcomes.; Other Names: Flagyl; Fansidar
Active Comparator: IPTp-DP plus MTZ; 3 tablets of 40mg of dihydroartemisinin and 320mg of piperaquine, first dose and will be administered as directly observed therapy with the remaining two doses on the next two consecutive days at home. 4 tablets each containing 500mg metronidazole administered as directly observed therapy.	Drug: IPTp-dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine plus metronidazole; Metronidazole (MTZ) is indicated for the treatment of BV and TV and is also safe to administer in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, and its use with SP or DP may result in better birth outcomes than SP alone. Malaria parasites have developed resistance against SP and the treatment is sub-optimal at clearing malaria infection compared to dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (DP), therapy that has a suitable profile for use in IPTp. This intervention arm can be compared to the intervention arm IPTp-SP plus MTZ to assess whether DP is superior to SP in in reducing adverse pregnancy outcomes.; Other Names: Flagyl; D-ARTEPP®

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Adverse pregnancy outcome	Composite endpoint of foetal morbidity, defined as any of the following: foetal loss (spontaneous abortion or stillbirth), singleton live births born with low birthweight (LBW), or preterm (PT) (LBW-PT), and subsequent neonatal death by day 28.	8 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Individual components of the primary outcome- adverse pregnancy outcomes	Prevalence of individual components of primary outcome	8 months
Foetal loss	Spontaneous abortion or stillbirth (binary)	8 months
Neonatal mortality	Death in the first 28 days of life (binary)	8 months
Low birthweight	Birthweight <2.5 kg (binary)	8 months from randomisation
Preterm birth	Birth at <37 gestational weeks	8 months from randomisation
Birth weight (continuous)	Weight at birth (g)	8 months from randomisation
Gestational age at delivery (continuous)	Based on gestational age measured by ultrasound at enrolment (days)	8 months from randomisation
Z-score for birthweight (continuous)	Z-score for birthweight (g) from regional population reference	8 months from randomisation
Small for gestational age (binary)	Estimated as a stand-alone secondary outcome using the 10th percentile of regional reference charts on the corrected birthweight	8 months from randomisation
Clinical malaria during pregnancy (binary)	Clinical malaria at any point from enrolment including delivery and 28 day postpartum, both: Documented fever (≥37.5°C), or recent history of fever in the past 24 hours, or other symptoms of acute illness that resulted in a woman seeking care with an unscheduled visit; Maternal malaria patent infection detectable by Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) for women with malaria symptoms only	8 months from randomisation
Maternal malaria infection (binary)	Malaria infection detected by PCR during pregnancy in the peripheral blood at any point during pregnancy (scheduled and unscheduled visits) from study registration, including delivery.	8 months from randomisation
Any malaria at delivery (binary)	Malaria infection at delivery detected in peripheral blood by PCR or placental blood by microscopy, PCR or histology (active infection)	8 months from randomisation
Placental malaria infection (binary)	Placental malaria detected by microscopy, PCR , or histology (active and past infection) including any Plasmodium species detected in the placental blood or biopsy tissue by either: Placental incision smear microscopy (standard microscopy); PCR placental blood (maternal); Placental malaria by histology (active and past infection)	8 months from randomisation
Congenital malaria infection (binary)	Malaria infection detected in foetal cord blood of the new born at birth by standard microscopy	8 months from randomisation
Placental malaria by histology (binary)	Active Infection:Chronic: pigment present and asexual parasites presentAcute: pigment absent and asexual parasites present; Past Infection: Pigment in fibrin detected in the absence of asexual parasites.; Placental histology categoriesAnyActiveActive acuteActive chronicPast	8 months from randomisation
Placental Inflammation or chorioamnionitis (binary)	Any inflammation in the placenta or chorioamnionitis detected by placental histology	8 months from randomisation
Maternal anaemia (binary) and haemoglobin concentration (continuous (g/dL) at enrolment and delivery	Definition: No anaemia (Hb >11 g/dL); Mild (Hb >10 to <11 g/dL); Moderate (Hb >7 to <10 g/dL; Severe (Hb <7 g/dL)	8 months from randomisation
Congenital anaemia in umbilical cord blood at delivery	Hb<12.5 g/dL in umbilical cord blood at birth, which is 2 standard deviations below the mean cord Hb in developed countries	8 months from randomisation
Congenital malformations (binary)	Physical abnormality of live born baby detected at delivery or newly noted abnormality during the infant visits (7 days or 2-6 weeks post-natal)	8 months from randomisation
Maternal mortality (binary)	Maternal mortality from registration until 28 days after delivery	8 months from randomisation
SAEs and AEs defined by MedDRA (listings)	AEs and SAEs will be defined according to the Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities (MedDRA) and reported by study arm: Overall; By system organ class and preferred term	8 months from randomisation
History of vomiting study drug - Prevalence at each cycle of treatment (binary)	Vomited within 30 minutes of taking study drug at any scheduled administration	8 months from randomisation
Dizziness - Prevalence at each cycle of treatment	Dizziness at any point within 30 minutes of first drug administered during a treatment cycle, reported as Mothers adverse event	8 months from randomisation
Gastrointestinal complaints - Prevalence at each cycle of treatment (binary)	Nausea or vomiting within 30 minutes of first drug administered during a treatment cycle	8 months from randomisation
Presence of any one or more STIs/RTIs - Prevalence at enrolment (binary)	Any or more infection of syphilis, gonorrhoea, chlamydia, trichomoniasis, and bacterial vaginosis	8 months from randomisation

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: R. Matthew Chico, MPH, PhD, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): December 15, 2019
• Primary Completion (Actual): October 21, 2022
• Study Completion (Actual): March 31, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 28, 2019
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 4, 2019
• First Posted (Actual): December 6, 2019

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 22, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 19, 2023
• Last Verified: March 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Metronidazole; Sub-Saharan Africa; Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine; Zambia; Dihydroartemisinin-Piperaquine; Pregnancy Malaria; Bacterial Vaginoses; Trichomonas Vaginitis; Intermittent Preventive Treatment in Pregnancy (IPTp)
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Infections; Vector Borne Diseases; Bacterial Infections; Bacterial Infections and Mycoses; Parasitic Diseases; Protozoan Infections; Female Urogenital Diseases; Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications; Urogenital Diseases; Genital Diseases; Genital Diseases, Female; Malaria; Vaginal Diseases; Vaginitis; Vaginosis, Bacterial; Trichomonas Vaginitis; Trichomonas Infections; Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action; Anti-Infective Agents; Enzyme Inhibitors; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Antiprotozoal Agents; Antiparasitic Agents; Antimalarials; Folic Acid Antagonists; Anti-Infective Agents, Urinary; Metronidazole; Pyrimethamine; Piperaquine; Sulfadoxine; Fanasil, pyrimethamine drug combination; Artenimol
• Other Study ID Numbers: ITDCZO83

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: YES
• IPD Plan Description: Individual participant data will be shared upon receiving formal request and subject to sharing agreement.
• IPD Sharing Time Frame: Five years
• IPD Sharing Access Criteria: The full protocol will be available on request to any interested professional. All requests for data for secondary analysis will be considered by a Data Access Committee to ensure that use of data is within the terms of consent and ethics approval.
• IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type: STUDY_PROTOCOL

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No