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Cervical Stiffness Assessment in High-risk Pregnancies for Preterm Birth

A Pilot Study of Cervical Stiffness Assessment With an Aspiration-based Device in High-risk Pregnancies for Preterm Birth

Status
Completed
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Observational
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT07541313
Acronym
PilotProPre
Enrollment
21
Registered
2026-04-21
Start date
2023-07-27
Completion date
2025-09-29
Last updated
2026-05-29

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

Conditions

Cervical Insufficiency, Cervical Stiffness

Keywords

cervical insufficiency, cervical stiffness, short cervix, cervical lenght, preterm birth risk

Brief summary

Cervical length is usually measured using ultrasound, and if it is shortened, hormone therapy (progesterone) is recommended to reduce the risk of premature birth. The investigators want to find out what cervical stiffness is like in women with a shortened cervical length before and during hormone therapy. The investigators believe that this measurement will help to better assess the risk of premature birth in the future.

Detailed description

This is a prospective, non-interventional, post-market monocentric clinical investigation in a Swiss hospital (Lucerne Cantonal Hospital) to measure cervical stiffness on women at high risk of premature birth, defined as women with a cervical length less or equal to 25 mm presenting between 16+0 wp and 32 wp. Cervical stiffness will be measured as Cervical Stiffness Index (CSI) using the Pregnolia System. The primary objective is an initial characterization of the distribution of the median Cervical Stiffness Index (CSI, in mbar), corresponding to the median of three consecutive measurements at each presentation at pregnant women of gestational age between 16weeks 0 days and 32weeks 0 days with a cervical length less or equal to 25 mm before the initiation of progesterone treatment. Day 1 is when study inclusion criteria are met, informed consent is obtained and the first Cervical Stiffness Index is carried out. Secondary objectives * At each presentation three consecutive CSI measurements will be carried out and as a secondary objective the first, the highest, lowest and mean measurement will be analyzed for each secondary outcome. * Evaluation of Cervical Stiffness Index 1, 2, 3 (CSI, in mbar) on day 10-14 and on day 24-28 after initiation of progesterone treatment, which is defined as day 1; further follow-up is not mandatory, but possible * Determination of a first estimate of the correlation of the initial CSI and CSI changes with birth outcome (gestational age at birth) * Determination of a first estimate of the correlation of CSI with cervical length (longer cervical length stiffer?) * Determination of first signals for potential associations of CSI with additional treatments for preterm birth (tocolysis, cerclage, pessary) * Determination of first signals for potential associations of CSI with neonatal outcome (birth weight, APGAR, arterial pH, admission to neonatal intensive care) * Safety objective: safety of the device, by assessing incidence, severity, and seriousness of device-related adverse events (discomfort, bleeding, lesion, irritation).

Interventions

None listed

Sponsors

Luzerner Kantonsspital
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Observational model
COHORT
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Informed consent signed by the participant * Pregnant women more or equal to 18 years of age. * Singleton gestation * Weeks of pregnancy between 16 weeks 0 days and 32 weeks and 0 days * Cervix less or equal to 25 mm (inferior to the 5th centile at 25 wp) * No regular contractions * Planned progesterone treatment

Exclusion criteria

* Cognitively impaired adults * Cerclage or pessary on place * Ongoing progesterone (if continued or started after 13+0 wp) treatment * Multiple pregnancies * Placenta praevia totalis with hemorrhage (irrespective of severity) * Vasa praevia * Light bleeding (if the bleeding can be stopped it is no longer an exclusion criterion) * Heavy vaginal bleeding, hematoma or chorioamniotic membrane separation * Rupture of membranes (exclusion with ROM+ test if PPROM is suspected) * History of cervical surgery only if visible scaring at 12 o'clock * Cervical dilation more equal to 3 cm * Signs of chorioamnionitis * Symptomatic genital infection * Known carrier of HIV or Hepatitis B/C * Fetal malformations

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
cervical stiffness index (mbar) at enrollment1 dayThe median of three consecutive Cervical Stiffness Index (CSI, in mbar) measurements at gestational age of 16weeks 0 days up to 32weeks 0 days before progesterone start

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
cervical stiffness index (mbar) at enrollment1 dayThe first, the highest, the lowest and the mean of three consecutive Cervical Stiffness Index (CSI, in mbar) measurements at gestational age of 16weeks 0 days up to 32weeks 0 days before progesterone start
cervical stiffness index (mbar) follow-up after progesterone start28 daysThe median, the first, the highest, the lowest and the mean of three consecutive Cervical Stiffness Index (CSI, in mbar) measurements at two follow-up visits after 10 to 14 days

Countries

Switzerland

Contacts

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORGülseven Gül, MD

Luzerner Kantonsspital

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: May 30, 2026