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Characterization of Extracellular Vesicles From the Cord Blood of Extremely Preterm New Borns and Their Correlation With Severe Morbidity and Mortality

Characterization of Extracellular Vesicles From the Cord Blood of Extremely Preterm New Borns and Their Correlation With Severe Morbidity and Mortality

Status
Recruiting
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Observational
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT07273643
Acronym
VEEP
Enrollment
30
Registered
2025-12-09
Start date
2026-01-13
Completion date
2027-10-13
Last updated
2026-02-23

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD), Death, ELGAN (22-28SA), Enterocolitis, Necrotizing, Extracellular Vesicles, Intraventricular Hemorrhage, Pulmonary Hemorrhage, Shock

Keywords

ELGAN, Extremely Low Gestational Age Newborn (ELGAN), Extracellular vesicles, EVs, Intraventricular hemorrage, Pulmonary hemorrhage, Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia

Brief summary

This study aims to understand the role of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in extremely premature infants, those born before 28 weeks of gestation. EVs are tiny particles released by cells that carry important information about the body's condition. In extremely premature infants, blood vessels may not function properly, leading to serious health problems such as bleeding in the brain, lung injury, or severe infections. Researchers believe that analyzing EVs in the umbilical cord blood of these infants may help predict which babies are at higher risk of developing these complications. By studying the size, number, and type of EVs, the team hopes to identify early markers that can guide doctors in providing better care. The study will collect cord blood from 30 eligible infants born at the CHU of Montpellier. Blood samples will be processed to isolate platelet-poor plasma, which contains EVs. This plasma will be stored in a biobank, allowing future research on EVs and their role in extreme prematurity. EVs will then be analyzed in the laboratory to assess their characteristics and any links to severe health issues. The findings from this study could improve understanding of circulatory problems in extremely premature infants, help identify early predictors of severe complications, and inform better monitoring and treatment strategies. The creation of a plasma biobank also provides a valuable resource for future research to enhance care and outcomes for this vulnerable population.

Interventions

BIOLOGICALVenous Cord blood sample

Venous cord blood sample will be collected at birth (10 mL; if not possible, a minimum of 3 mL) from the umbilical vein into an EDTA tube. Plasma was isolated from blood cells by two centrifugation steps. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) were then isolated from plasma using additional centrifugation and ultracentrifugation steps. EVs were sized and counted using a Zetasizer, and their cellular origin was characterized by nanocytometry.

BIOLOGICALArterial cord blood sample

Arterial cord blood sample will be collected at birth (10 mL; if not possible, a minimum of 3 mL) from the umbilical vein into an EDTA tube for the five first inclusions (succeed). Plasma was isolated from blood cells by two centrifugation steps. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) were then isolated from plasma using additional centrifugation and ultracentrifugation steps. EVs were sized and counted using a Zetasizer, and their cellular origin was characterized by nanocytometry.

Sponsors

University Hospital, Montpellier
Lead SponsorOTHER
INSERM U1046 Physiologie et médecine expérimentale du coeur et des muscles
CollaboratorUNKNOWN

Study design

Observational model
CASE_CONTROL
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
0 Days to 3 Months
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Mother over 18 years old, able to speak and understand French * Newborn less than 28 weeks of gestation, born and hospitalized at Montpellier University Hospital * Umbilical cord venous blood collected immediately after birth (from the segment between the cord clamp and the placenta), with a volume of 10 ml (which can be reduced to 3 ml if collection is difficult) into an EDTA tube. * Parental non-opposition to the study obtained before sample collection

Exclusion criteria

* Stillborn infant * Handling failure: failure to collect the sample or start the first centrifugation more than 3 hours after birth * General regulatory criteria: failure to obtain parental non-opposition, lack of social security coverage, individuals under legal guardianship, or participation in another ongoing research study with an active exclusion period

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Correlation between occurence of early severe morbidity mortality and characterization of Extracellular vesicles (EVs)Blood collection: at birth Centrifugation: within 3 hours of collection. EV isolation and analysis: up to there month after collection. Clinical informations(occurence of early severe morbidity and mortality): through study completion, up to 1yearThe primary outcome is the correlation between occurence of early severe morbidity mortality and the characterization of Extracellular vesicles (EVs) for venous cord blood plasma : 1. EV were isolated from venous cord blood plasma using sequential centrifugation and ultracentrifugation steps. EVs were then characterized for size (nm) and concentration (EVs/µL) using a Zetasizer, and their cellular origin was determined by nanocytometry. 2. Early severe morbidity or mortality during the hospital stay is defined as the occurrence of at least one of the following events: * Refractory shock (requiring fluid resuscitation or vasopressor support) * Pulmonary Hemorrhage * Severe Intraventricular Hemorrhage (grade 3 or 4, Papille classification) * Death before discharge

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Correlation between occurrence of other morbidity before discharge and the EVs characterizationBlood collection: at birth Centrifugation: within 3 hours of collection. EV isolation and analysis: up to there month after collection. Clinical informations (occurence of other morbidity): through study completion, up to 1year.This secondary outcome will explore the correlation between the characterization of venous cord blood extracellular vesicles (EVs), as defined in the primary outcome, and the occurrence of other morbidities before discharge, defined as: * Necrotizing enterocolitis * Bronchopulmonary dysplasia * Other significant conditions
Correlation between obstetric characteristics and causes of prematurity and characterization of venous cord blood EVs.Blood collection: at birth Centrifugation: within 3 hours of collection. EV isolation and analysis: up to there month after collection. Clinical informations (obstetric characteristics and causes of prematurity): through study completion, up to 1yearThis secondary outcome will explore the correlation between the characterization of venous cord blood extracellular vesicles (EVs), as defined in the primary outcome, and the obstetric characteristics and causes of prematurity
Comparison of Arterial and Venous Extracellular VesiclesBlood collection: at birth Centrifugation: within 3 hours of collection. EV isolation and analysis: up to there month after collection.For the first five inclusions, an arterial blood sample will also be collected. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) from arterial and venous cord blood will be characterized for size, concentration, and cellular origin using the same methods as described for the primary outcome. Arterial and venous EV characteristics will then be compared.

Countries

France

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 24, 2026