Amniotic Fluid & the Preterm Gut

Recruiting now

Conditions studied: Chorioamnionitis, Chorioamnionitis Affecting Fetus or Newborn, Necrotizing Enterocolitis of Newborn, Neonatal Sepsis, Early-Onset, Neonatal Sepsis, Late-Onset, Fetal Growth Restriction (FGR), Preterm Birth Complication, Prematurity Complications

In brief

Background: Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and sepsis in preterm infants have been linked to intestinal immaturity and preclinical gut microbiota alterations. An important yet understudied contributor in the development of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) is amniotic fluid (AF). Knowledge is lacking on the critical shifts that may occur in AF in extremely preterm birth. The aim of the current study is to assess the composition of AF using advanced biomedical techniques. Secondary objectives are to assess AF profiles of infants with chorioamnionitis (CAM) and/or fetal growth restriction (FGR), assess key metabolites across gestation, correlate AF profiles with neonatal outcomes, and explore associations with early gut microbiota. Methods: ln this multicenter, prospective, cohort study, AF (\~5 mL) will be collected from obstetric patients delivering their infants extremely preterm (gestational age (GA) 24+0/7-27+6/7 weeks, n=125), either during vaginal delivery or cesarean section (CS). Additionally, AF samples will be collected from a reference group (n=150), including early midtrimester (GA \<23+/7 weeks), very early and moderate to late preterm (GA 28+0/6-36+6/7 weeks), and full-term pregnancies (GA 37+0/7-41+6/7 weeks). Thorough characterization of AF will be conducted, including microbial profiling and metabolomics. Microbiota profiling of neonatal fecal samples will be conducted to assess the association between AF and early neonatal gut colonization patterns. Discussion and expected results: AF profiles associated with CAM and/or FGR in extremely preterm infants are expected to be identified, as well as relevant associations with neonatal health outcomes (including NEC and sepsis) and early neonatal gut colonization patterns. The current study will not only increase the understanding of the GIT development and the pathogenesis of NEC and sepsis but may also aid in the identification of high-risk infants. In the future, these findings may facilitate early targeted microbiota-based interventions to prevent disease progression and ultimately improve clinical outcomes.

Key facts

Study ID
NCT07152106
Run by
Maxima Medical Center
People needed
275
Starts
2024-10-14
Expected to finish
2027-10-14
Last updated by the study team
2025-09-03

Who can join

Age: 16 and older. Sex: female. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

You may not qualify if…

Where it is running

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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