The Effect of Probiotics on Preterm Birth Rates in Pregnant Women After a Threatened Preterm Birth Episode (The PROPEV Trial)

<b>Introduction</b>: Preterm birth is the leading cause of perinatal mortality worldwide, with prevalence rates showing little reduction. Although mortality rates have decreased, morbidity rates remain concerningly high. In recent years, there has been a surge in studies examining the et...

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Main Authors: Ester del Barco, Leidy-Alejandra G. Molano, Mireia Vargas, Marta Miserachs, Linda Puerto, Carmen Garrido-Giménez, Zaida Soler, Begoña Muñoz, Laia Pratcorona, Sonia Rimbaut, Mercè Vidal, Marta Dalmau, Alba Casellas, Elena Carreras, Chaysavanh Manichanh, Maria Goya
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Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Biomedicines
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/13/5/1141
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author Ester del Barco
Leidy-Alejandra G. Molano
Mireia Vargas
Marta Miserachs
Linda Puerto
Carmen Garrido-Giménez
Zaida Soler
Begoña Muñoz
Laia Pratcorona
Sonia Rimbaut
Mercè Vidal
Marta Dalmau
Alba Casellas
Elena Carreras
Chaysavanh Manichanh
Maria Goya
author_facet Ester del Barco
Leidy-Alejandra G. Molano
Mireia Vargas
Marta Miserachs
Linda Puerto
Carmen Garrido-Giménez
Zaida Soler
Begoña Muñoz
Laia Pratcorona
Sonia Rimbaut
Mercè Vidal
Marta Dalmau
Alba Casellas
Elena Carreras
Chaysavanh Manichanh
Maria Goya
author_sort Ester del Barco
collection DOAJ
description <b>Introduction</b>: Preterm birth is the leading cause of perinatal mortality worldwide, with prevalence rates showing little reduction. Although mortality rates have decreased, morbidity rates remain concerningly high. In recent years, there has been a surge in studies examining the etiology, risk factors, and management of preterm birth. The use of vaginal probiotics in pregnant women at risk of preterm birth has garnered attention as a potential approach for improving perinatal outcomes and modulating the vaginal microbiota. However, the efficacy of this intervention remains unclear. Therefore, this study explored the impact of vaginal probiotics on perinatal outcomes and vaginal microbiota composition in pregnant women at risk of preterm birth. <b>Materials and Methods</b>: This was a randomized, prospective, longitudinal, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentric trial conducted across seven maternities in Spain from October 2017 to August 2022 in pregnant women at risk of preterm birth. Participants were randomly assigned to receive vaginal probiotics containing four lactobacilli strains or a placebo. The primary outcome was to explore a potential correlation between probiotic use among pregnant women at risk of preterm birth and the actual rate of preterm birth before 37 gestational weeks. Secondary outcomes included an evaluation of preterm birth rates, neonatal morbidity, the vaginal microbiota, and changes in the vaginal microbiota after receiving probiotics. Other secondary outcomes were identifying vaginal microbiota patterns associated with preterm birth and exploring potential therapeutic mechanisms involving probiotics. Trial registration: Clinicaltrials.gov, identifier: NCT03689166. <b>Results</b>: A total of 200 participants were included. Of those, birth data were obtained for 181 women. Demographics were similar between both groups. An analysis of perinatal outcomes found no significant differences in preterm birth rates, prematurity rates, gestational weeks at delivery, neonatal complications, time to birth, or latency time to delivery. Microbiota analysis showed no significant differences in vaginal microbiota changes between groups. No serious or unexpected adverse reactions were reported. <b>Conclusions</b>: There were no statistically significant differences for spontaneous preterm birth between pregnant women receiving probiotics and pregnant women receiving the placebo.
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spelling doaj-art-a6b212f2fe0645a99032b64d00df96842025-08-20T01:56:14ZengMDPI AGBiomedicines2227-90592025-05-01135114110.3390/biomedicines13051141The Effect of Probiotics on Preterm Birth Rates in Pregnant Women After a Threatened Preterm Birth Episode (The PROPEV Trial)Ester del Barco0Leidy-Alejandra G. Molano1Mireia Vargas2Marta Miserachs3Linda Puerto4Carmen Garrido-Giménez5Zaida Soler6Begoña Muñoz7Laia Pratcorona8Sonia Rimbaut9Mercè Vidal10Marta Dalmau11Alba Casellas12Elena Carreras13Chaysavanh Manichanh14Maria Goya15Maternal-Fetal Medicine Unit, Department of Obstetrics, Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08035 Barcelona, SpainMicrobiome Lab, Vall d’Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Passeig Vall d’Hebron, 08035 Barcelona, SpainObstetrics and Gynecology Department, Hospital Althaia, 08243 Manresa, SpainObstetrics and Gynecology Department, Hospital Mútua de Terrassa, 08221 Terrassa, SpainHigh-Risk Obstetrics Unit, Obstetrics Department, Hospital Universitari de Tarragona Joan XXIII, 43005 Tarragona, SpainMaternal-Fetal Medicine Unit, Department of Obstetrics, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, 08025 Barcelona, SpainMicrobiome Lab, Vall d’Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Passeig Vall d’Hebron, 08035 Barcelona, SpainObstetrics and Gynecology Department, Hospital Sant Joan de Reus, 43204 Reus, SpainObstetrics and Gynecology Department, Hospital Germans Tries I Pujol, 08916 Badalona, SpainObstetrics and Gynecology Department, Institut Dexeus, 08028 Barcelona, SpainObstetrics and Gynecology Department, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, 08950 Esplugues de Llobregat, SpainMaternal-Fetal Medicine Unit, Department of Obstetrics, Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08035 Barcelona, SpainMaternal-Fetal Medicine Unit, Department of Obstetrics, Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08035 Barcelona, SpainMaternal-Fetal Medicine Unit, Department of Obstetrics, Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08035 Barcelona, SpainMicrobiome Lab, Vall d’Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Passeig Vall d’Hebron, 08035 Barcelona, SpainMaternal-Fetal Medicine Unit, Department of Obstetrics, Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08035 Barcelona, Spain<b>Introduction</b>: Preterm birth is the leading cause of perinatal mortality worldwide, with prevalence rates showing little reduction. Although mortality rates have decreased, morbidity rates remain concerningly high. In recent years, there has been a surge in studies examining the etiology, risk factors, and management of preterm birth. The use of vaginal probiotics in pregnant women at risk of preterm birth has garnered attention as a potential approach for improving perinatal outcomes and modulating the vaginal microbiota. However, the efficacy of this intervention remains unclear. Therefore, this study explored the impact of vaginal probiotics on perinatal outcomes and vaginal microbiota composition in pregnant women at risk of preterm birth. <b>Materials and Methods</b>: This was a randomized, prospective, longitudinal, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentric trial conducted across seven maternities in Spain from October 2017 to August 2022 in pregnant women at risk of preterm birth. Participants were randomly assigned to receive vaginal probiotics containing four lactobacilli strains or a placebo. The primary outcome was to explore a potential correlation between probiotic use among pregnant women at risk of preterm birth and the actual rate of preterm birth before 37 gestational weeks. Secondary outcomes included an evaluation of preterm birth rates, neonatal morbidity, the vaginal microbiota, and changes in the vaginal microbiota after receiving probiotics. Other secondary outcomes were identifying vaginal microbiota patterns associated with preterm birth and exploring potential therapeutic mechanisms involving probiotics. Trial registration: Clinicaltrials.gov, identifier: NCT03689166. <b>Results</b>: A total of 200 participants were included. Of those, birth data were obtained for 181 women. Demographics were similar between both groups. An analysis of perinatal outcomes found no significant differences in preterm birth rates, prematurity rates, gestational weeks at delivery, neonatal complications, time to birth, or latency time to delivery. Microbiota analysis showed no significant differences in vaginal microbiota changes between groups. No serious or unexpected adverse reactions were reported. <b>Conclusions</b>: There were no statistically significant differences for spontaneous preterm birth between pregnant women receiving probiotics and pregnant women receiving the placebo.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/13/5/1141prematuritypreterm birthmicrobiotaprobiotics<i>Lactobacillus</i>
spellingShingle Ester del Barco
Leidy-Alejandra G. Molano
Mireia Vargas
Marta Miserachs
Linda Puerto
Carmen Garrido-Giménez
Zaida Soler
Begoña Muñoz
Laia Pratcorona
Sonia Rimbaut
Mercè Vidal
Marta Dalmau
Alba Casellas
Elena Carreras
Chaysavanh Manichanh
Maria Goya
The Effect of Probiotics on Preterm Birth Rates in Pregnant Women After a Threatened Preterm Birth Episode (The PROPEV Trial)
Biomedicines
prematurity
preterm birth
microbiota
probiotics
<i>Lactobacillus</i>
title The Effect of Probiotics on Preterm Birth Rates in Pregnant Women After a Threatened Preterm Birth Episode (The PROPEV Trial)
title_full The Effect of Probiotics on Preterm Birth Rates in Pregnant Women After a Threatened Preterm Birth Episode (The PROPEV Trial)
title_fullStr The Effect of Probiotics on Preterm Birth Rates in Pregnant Women After a Threatened Preterm Birth Episode (The PROPEV Trial)
title_full_unstemmed The Effect of Probiotics on Preterm Birth Rates in Pregnant Women After a Threatened Preterm Birth Episode (The PROPEV Trial)
title_short The Effect of Probiotics on Preterm Birth Rates in Pregnant Women After a Threatened Preterm Birth Episode (The PROPEV Trial)
title_sort effect of probiotics on preterm birth rates in pregnant women after a threatened preterm birth episode the propev trial
topic prematurity
preterm birth
microbiota
probiotics
<i>Lactobacillus</i>
url https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/13/5/1141
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