A chronicle of the 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone caproate story to prevent recurrent preterm birth

Assessing the applicability of obstetrical randomized controlled trials in real-world practices

This article examines the applicability of obstetrical randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in the real-world and proposes a classification of the value of these trials based on their potential for achieving sustainable practices. In the context of this discussion, real-world results pertain to the potential impact of the RCT on sustainable interventions and practices, and its implications for healthcare practice or policy, in the country (or countries) that was conducted. While RCTs are generally regarded as the gold standard of medical evidence, their effectiveness in producing meaningful real-world results depends, among various other factors, on the clarity and specificity of the trial definitions used for diagnosis (characteristics of the study group or enrollment criteria) and treatment (intervention). The definitions used for diagnosis and treatment, especially in pragmatic trials, can influence the likelihood for real-world implementation. By analyzing notable obstetrical RCTs, the authors find that trials with well-defined diagnoses and treatments that can be implemented without specialized expertise are more likely to generate results that are relevant to general practice, indicating higher value. In contrast, RCTs with ambiguous or undefined diagnoses and treatments often lead to variations in practice and produce unreliable real-world outcomes and practices suggesting lower value. Recognizing this variability can offer valuable guidance for the design and evaluation of RCTs in obstetrics.

The dosing regimen for 17-hydroxyprogesterone caproate was suboptimal: lessons for future pharmacotherapy for pregnant women

BACKGROUND

Makena (17-hydroxyprogesterone caproate) was approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for the prevention of recurrent spontaneous preterm birth in 2011 under the accelerated approval pathway, but fundamental pharmacokinetic or pharmacodynamic (Phase 1 and Phase 2) studies were not performed. At the time, there were no dose-response or concentration-response data. The therapeutic concentration was not known. The lack of such data brings into question the dosing regimen for 17-hydroxyprogesterone caproate and if it was optimized.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the dosing regimen for 17-hydroxyprogesterone by analyzing 3 data sets in which the 17-hydroxyprogesterone caproate pharmacology was evaluated, namely the Maternal-Fetal Medicine Omega 3 study, the Obstetric-Fetal Pharmacology Research Units study, and the Obstetrical-Fetal Pharmacology Research Centers study. If an inappropriate dosing regimen could be identified, such information could inform future studies of pharmacotherapy in pregnancy.

STUDY DESIGN

Data from the Omega 3 study were used to determine if plasma concentration was related to spontaneous preterm birth risk and if a threshold concentration could be identified. Data from the Obstetric-Fetal Pharmacology Research Units study were used to determine the half-life of 17-hydroxyprogesterone caproate and to develop a model to simulate drug concentrations with various dosing regimens. Data from the Obstetrical-Fetal Pharmacology Research Centers study were used to determine the relationship between dose and safety outcomes.

RESULTS

Analysis of the Omega 3 data set indicated that the risk for spontaneous preterm birth decreased as the log concentration of 17-hydroxyprogesterone caproate increased (odds ratio, 0.04; 95% confidence interval, 0.00-0.90). A steady state concentration of >9 ng/mL (equivalent to >8 ng/mL at 25-28 weeks) was associated with the lowest risk for spontaneous preterm birth (hazard ratio, 0.52; 95% confidence interval, 0.27-0.98; P=.04); this concentration was not achieved in 25% of subjects who received the 250 mg weekly dose. In the Obstetrical-Fetal Pharmacology Research Units study, the adjusted half-life (median and interquartile range) of 17-hydroxyprogesterone caproate was 14.0 (11.5-17.2) days. Simulations indicated that with the 250 mg weekly dose, >5 weekly injections were required to reach the 9 ng/mL target; however, those with the shortest half-life (corresponding to higher clearance), never reached the targeted 9 ng/mL concentration. In 75% of subjects, a loading dose of 500 mg weekly for 2 weeks followed by 250 mg weekly achieved and maintained the 9 ng/mL concentration within 2 weeks but in those 25% with the shortest half-life, concentrations exceeded the 9 ng/mL target for only 3 weeks. In the Obstetrical-Fetal Pharmacology Research Centers study, all 65 subjects who received a weekly dose of 500 mg exceeded the 9 ng/mL steady state.

CONCLUSION

The dosing regimen for 17-hydroxyprogesterone caproate was inadequate. There is a significant inverse relationship between drug concentration and spontaneous preterm birth. The risk was lowest when the concentration exceeded 9 ng/mL, but 25% of women who received the 250 mg weekly dose never reached or maintained this concentration. The drug's long half-life necessitates a loading dose to achieve therapeutic concentrations rapidly. The omission of basic pharmacologic studies to determine the proper dosing may have compromised the effectiveness of 17-hydroxyprogesterone caproate. Future pharmacotherapy trials in pregnancy must first complete fundamental pharmacology studies.

Solubility, Thermodynamic Parameters, and Dissolution Properties of 17-α Hydroxyprogesterone in 13 Pure Solvents

The static gravimetric method was used to measure the solubility of 17-α hydroxyprogesterone (OHP) in 13 pure solvents ranging from 278.15 to 323.15 K. The results indicate that the experimental solubility of OHP increases with increasing temperature. The experimental solubility data were correlated by the selected van't Hoff model, λh model, modified Apelblat model, Yaws model, and nonrandom two-liquid (NRTL) model. The fitting results show that the Yaws model can give better correlation results by fitting 13 different pure solvent systems. Based on the NRTL equation, the thermodynamic analysis of solubility data showed that the mixing process was spontaneous. The Hansen solubility parameters (HSPs) and solvent effect were applied to explore these solubility characteristics. Finally, the thermodynamic properties ΔsolH°, ΔsolS°, ΔsolG°, %ξH, and %ξTS were calculated by the van't Hoff model equation. The results showed that ΔsolH°, ΔsolS°, and ΔsolG° are all positive values, indicating that the dissolution of OHP in the selected solvent is an endothermic reaction with increasing entropy.

Progesterone therapy for prevention of recurrent spontaneous preterm birth in a minority patient population: a retrospective study

BACKGROUND

Preterm birth is a leading cause of infant morbidity and mortality worldwide. The burden of prematurity underscores the need for effective risk reduction strategies. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of progesterone therapy, both intramuscular 17-α-hydroxyprogesterone caproate (IM 17-OHPC) and vaginal progesterone, in the prevention of recurrent spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB). The co-primary outcomes included: recurrent spontaneous PTB < 37 and < 34 weeks' gestation.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study included 637 pregnant patients that delivered at any of the three hospitals within the Los Angeles County healthcare system between October 2015 and June 2021. We compared frequencies of measured variables between each of the progesterone treated groups to no treatment using Pearson chi-squared tests and independent t-tests for categorical and continuous variables, respectively. We estimated crude and adjusted associations between each specific treatment (versus no treatment) and primary outcomes using logistic regression.

RESULTS

Recurrent sPTB < 37 weeks' gestation occurred in 22.3% (n = 64) of those in the no treatment group, 29.1% (n = 86, p = .077) in the 17-OHPC group, and 14.3% (n = 6, p = 0.325) in the vaginal progesterone group. Recurrent sPTB < 34 weeks' gestation was 6.6% (n = 19) in the no treatment group, 11.8% (n = 35, p = .043) in the 17-OHPC group, and 7.1% (n = 3, p = 1) in the vaginal progesterone group. Among all participants, neither 17-OHPC nor vaginal progesterone was significantly associated with a reduction in recurrent sPTB at any time point. Among those with a short cervix, IM 17-OHPC was positively associated with recurrent sPTB < 37 weeks' gestation (aOR 5.61; 95% CI 1.16, 42.9).

CONCLUSIONS

Progesterone therapy of any type did not reduce the risk of recurrent sPTB < 34 or < 37 weeks' gestation compared to no progesterone therapy.

Randomized controlled trials: not always the "gold standard" for evidence in obstetrics and gynecology

Randomized controlled trials are considered the "gold standard" for therapeutic interventions, and it is not uncommon for sweeping changes in medical practice to follow positive results from such trials. However, randomized controlled trials are not without their limitations. Physicians frequently view randomized controlled trials as infallible, whereas they tend to dismiss evidence derived from sources other than randomized controlled trials as less credible or reliable. In several situations in obstetrics and gynecology, there are no randomized controlled trials to help guide the clinician. In these circumstances, it is important to evaluate the entire body of evidence including observational studies, rather than dismiss interventions altogether simply because no randomized controlled trials exist. Randomized controlled trials and observational studies should be viewed as complementary rather than at odds with each other. Some reversals in widely adopted clinical practice have recently been implemented following subsequent studies that contradicted the outcomes of major randomized controlled trials. The most notable of these was the withdrawal from the market of 17-hydroxyprogesterone caproate for preterm birth prevention. Such reversals could potentially have been averted if the inherent limitations of randomized controlled trials were carefully considered before implementing these universal practice changes. This Clinical Opinion underscores the limitations of an exclusive reliance on randomized controlled trials while disregarding other evidence in determining how best to care for patients. Solutions are proposed that advocate that clinicians adopt a more balanced perspective that considers the entirety of the available medical evidence and the individual patient characteristics, needs, and wishes.

Challenges in Using Progestin to Prevent Singleton Preterm Births: Current Knowledge and Clinical Advice

Preterm birth is the leading cause of infant morbidity and mortality in children younger than 5 years old and accounts for approximately 35% of newborn deaths worldwide. The use of progestogen therapy for prevention of preterm birth has been one of the most controversial topics in modern obstetrics. Progestogens can be classified as natural or synthetic. Progesterone is a natural progestogen while progestins such as 17-alpha-hydroxyprogesterone caproate (17OHP-C) are synthetic steroid hormones. Evidence supporting the use of progestogens varies by formulation and populations studied. After more than a decade, the US Food and Drug Administration has withdrawn accelerated approval of 17OHP-C for the prevention of recurrent preterm birth in pregnant individuals with a singleton gestation. With this decision, there is no current FDA-approved treatment for prevention of spontaneous preterm birth. In this review, we provide a historical context behind the rise and fall of 17OHP-C clinical application, highlight the challenges behind the data supporting progestogen use, and offer suggestions on how to make an impact on preterm birth moving forward.

Addressing a broken drug pipeline for preterm birth: why early preterm birth is an orphan disease

Preterm birth remains one of the most urgent unresolved medical problems in obstetrics, yet only 2 therapeutics for preventing preterm birth have ever been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration, and neither remains on the market. The recent withdrawal of 17-hydroxyprogesterone caproate (17-OHPC, Makena) marks a new but familiar era for obstetrics with no Food and Drug Administration-approved pharmaceuticals to address preterm birth. The lack of pharmaceuticals reflects a broad and ineffective pipeline hindered by extensive regulatory hurdles, soaring costs of performing drug research, and concerns regarding adverse effects among a particularly vulnerable population. The pharmaceutical industry has historically limited investments in research for diseases with similarly small markets, such as cystic fibrosis, given their rarity and diminished projected financial return. The Orphan Drug Act, however, incentivizes drug development for "orphan diseases", defined as affecting <200,000 people in the United States annually. Although the total number of preterm births in the United States exceeds this threshold annually, the early subset of preterm birth (<34 weeks' gestation) would qualify, which is predominantly caused by inflammation and infection. The scientific rationale for classifying preterm birth into early and late subsets is strong given that their etiologies differ, and therapeutics that may be efficacious for one subset may not work for the other. For example, antiinflammatory therapeutics would be expected to be highly effective for early but not late preterm birth. A robust therapeutic pipeline of antiinflammatory drugs already exists, which could be used to target spontaneous early preterm birth, in combination with antibiotics shown to sterilize the amniotic cavity. New applications for therapeutics targeting spontaneous early preterm birth could categorize as orphan disease drugs, which could revitalize the preterm birth therapeutic pipeline. Herein, we describe why drugs targeting early preterm birth should qualify for orphan status, which may increase pharmaceutical interest for this vitally important obstetrical condition.

Changes in use of 17-OHPC after the PROLONG trial: a physician survey

OBJECTIVES

To determine if 17α-hydroxyprogesterone caproate (17OHPC) or vaginal progesterone use for patients at risk for preterm birth has changed since the publication of the 17-OHPC to Prevent Recurrent Preterm Birth in Singleton Gestations (PROLONG) trial, and to assess which organizations' (Food and Drug Administration's [FDA], American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology's [ACOG] or Society of Maternal Fetal Medicine's [SMFM]) statements most influenced change.

METHODS

Through a vignette-based physician survey, we sought to measure (by Likert scale) how counseling tendencies regarding 17OHPC and vaginal progesterone have changed since the PROLONG trial publication. Participants were also asked which organizations' statements most influenced change.

RESULTS

With response rate of 97 % (141/145), a pre-to-post PROLONG trial comparison revealed significant changes in counseling for progesterone. Respondents were less likely to recommend 17OHPC (p<0.001) and more likely to recommend vaginal (p<0.001). The FDA statement most influenced the decision not to recommend 17OHPC for the prevention of preterm birth (r=-0.23, p=0.005).

CONCLUSIONS

Providers have made significant changes in their counseling regarding progesterone use for patients at risk for preterm birth after the publication of the PRLONG trial.

Engineering is pregnant with possibilities

Recent engineering advances provide new tools and techniques to alleviate poor pregnancy outcomes that can lead to maternal and fetal death and long-term medical complications.

A comprehensive analysis of the association between placental pathology and recurrent preterm birth

BACKGROUND

Histologic examination of the placenta is often performed after preterm birth. Although placental examination cannot change the index pregnancy outcome, it may inform the risk of adverse outcomes in a subsequent pregnancy. Previous research has examined the association between individual histologic lesions and pregnancy outcomes without consistent results.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to determine the independent contributions of the major placental pathology histologic types to recurrent preterm birth.

STUDY DESIGN

This was a retrospective cohort study of deliveries at a tertiary care center from January 2009 to March 2018. Individuals with ≥2 births, an index birth of <37 weeks of gestation, and a placental pathology report from the index pregnancy were included. The presence of maternal vascular malperfusion, fetal vascular malperfusion, acute inflammation, and chronic inflammation was extracted from the pathology reports for each index placenta and classified as none, low grade, or high grade. A log-binomial model incorporating all 4 placental pathology histologic types, index gestational age, race, and maternal age was used to estimate the associations between each placental histologic type and risk of recurrent preterm birth. Moreover, 2-way interaction terms were studied among placental histologic types. In addition, 2 stratified analyses were completed on the basis of characteristics of the index preterm birth: (1) by late preterm (gestational age of 34-36 weeks) vs early-to-moderate preterm birth (<34 weeks) and (2) a subgroup analysis of those with spontaneous preterm birth.

RESULTS

A total of 924 pregnancy pairs met the inclusion criteria. Only high-grade chronic inflammation was independently associated with an increased risk of recurrent preterm birth (adjusted risk ratio, 1.37; 95% confidence interval, 1.03-1.81). Stratified analysis by gestational age group demonstrated maternal vascular malperfusion was associated with recurrent preterm birth only among those with early preterm birth (adjusted risk ratio, 1.40; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-1.93). Among participants with spontaneous preterm labor, no association was found between pathology histologic types and risk of preterm birth.

CONCLUSION

Among index preterm pregnancies, high-grade chronic placental inflammation was associated with recurrent preterm birth. Low-grade maternal vascular malperfusion was associated with recurrent preterm birth only among those with an early or moderate index preterm birth (<34 weeks of gestation). These findings may be useful in determining the risk profile for individual patients and may generate hypotheses as to the pathogenesis of recurrent preterm birth.

Regional differences in utilization of 17α-hydroxyprogesterone caproate (17-OHP)

OBJECTIVES

To describe regional differences in utilization of 17α-hydroxyprogesterone caproate (17-OHP).

METHODS

Retrospective cohort study of a large, US commercial managed care plan claims database with pharmacy coverage from 2008 to 2018. Singleton pregnancies with at least one prior spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB) were included. Regional and state-based differences in 17-OHP use were compared. Data were analyzed using t-tests and Fisher's exact tests.

RESULTS

Of the 4,514 individuals with an indication for 17-OHP, 580 (12.8%) were prescribed 17-OHP. Regional and state-based differences in 17-OHP utilization were identified; Northeast 15.7%, Midwest 13.7%, South 12.0%, and West 10.4% (p=0.003).

CONCLUSIONS

While significant regional differences in 17-OHP utilization were demonstrated, 17-OHP utilization remained low despite this cohort having insurance through a US commercial managed care plan. Suboptimal utilization demonstrates a disconnect between research and uptake in clinical practice. This underscores a need for implementation science in obstetrics to translate updated recommendations more effectively and efficiently into clinical practice.

Association of Vaginal Progesterone Treatment With Prevention of Recurrent Preterm Birth

IMPORTANCE

Preterm birth (PTB) is the leading cause of infant morbidity and mortality worldwide. It has been suggested that vaginal progesterone (VP) treatment may reduce the recurrence of PTB.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the association of VP treatment with prevention of recurrent PTB among patients with a singleton pregnancy.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

This prospective, observational cohort study, set in a public health care system for inner-city pregnant patients, enrolled patients with prior spontaneous PTB (gestational age, ≤35 weeks) receiving VP from May 15, 2017, to May 7, 2019. Patients who delivered between 1998 and 2011 served as a referent cohort matched 3:1 for obesity, race and ethnicity, and individual specific preterm birth history. Statistical analysis was performed from August 19, 2021, to September 2, 2022.

EXPOSURE

Patients received 90 mg of vaginal progesterone, 8%, nightly, initiated between 16 weeks and 0 days and 20 weeks and 6 days of pregnancy until 36 weeks and 6 days of pregnancy or delivery.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

The primary outcome was overall rate of recurrent PTB at 35 weeks or less of patients given VP compared with the 3:1 matched untreated historical controls. Secondary outcomes included assessment of PTB according to adherence (≥80% completing scheduled doses), duration of pregnancy relative to index gestational age, progesterone blood levels, and outcomes for those who declined VP.

RESULTS

A total of 417 patients (mean [SD] age, 30.4 [5.9] years; 64 Black patients [15.3%]; 272 [65.2%] with a body mass index of ≥30) received VP and were matched with 1251 controls (mean [SD] age, 28.8 [5.7] years; 192 Black patients [15.3%]; 816 [65.2%] with a body mass index of ≥30). The overall rate of recurrent PTB was 24.0% (100 of 417; 95% CI, 20.0%-28.4%) for the VP cohort compared with 16.8% (1394 of 8278) expected in the matched historical controls. Adherence was not associated with lower rates of recurrent PTB compared with nonadherence (odds ratio, 0.87 [95% CI, 0.51-1.41]). The mean difference between historical matched controls and those using VP was 0.2 weeks (95% CI, -1.4 to 1.0 weeks) without improvement in the interval of recurrent PTB after the implementation of VP (P = .73). Progesterone blood levels for patients who were adherent compared with those who were nonadherent were not significantly different at either 24 or 32 weeks (24 weeks: 99 ng/mL [95% CI, 85-121 ng/mL] vs 104 ng/mL [95% CI, 89-125 ng/mL]; P = .16; 32 weeks: 200 ng/mL [95% CI, 171-242 ng/mL] vs 196 ng/mL [95% CI, 155-271 ng/mL]; P = .69).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

This cohort study of patients with a current singleton pregnancy suggests that VP was not associated with a reduction in recurrent PTB.

Does vaginal progesterone prevent recurrent preterm birth in women with a singleton gestation and a history of spontaneous preterm birth? Evidence from a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To assess the efficacy and safety of vaginal progesterone to prevent recurrent preterm birth and adverse perinatal outcomes in singleton gestations with a history of spontaneous preterm birth.

DATA SOURCES

MEDLINE, Embase, LILACS, and CINAHL (from their inception to February 28, 2022), Cochrane databases, Google Scholar, bibliographies, and conference proceedings.

STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Randomized controlled trials that compared vaginal progesterone to placebo or no treatment in asymptomatic women with a singleton gestation and a history of spontaneous preterm birth.

METHODS

The primary outcomes were preterm birth <37 and <34 weeks of gestation. The secondary outcomes included adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes. Pooled relative risks with 95% confidence intervals were calculated. We assessed the risk of bias in the included studies, heterogeneity (I2 test), small-study effects, publication bias, and quality of evidence; performed subgroup and sensitivity analyses; and calculated 95% prediction intervals and adjusted relative risks.

RESULTS

Ten studies (2958 women) met the inclusion criteria: 7 with a sample size <150 (small studies) and 3 with a sample size >600 (large studies). Among the 7 small studies, 4 were at high risk of bias, 2 were at some concerns of bias, and only 1 was at low risk of bias. All the large studies were at low risk of bias. Vaginal progesterone significantly decreased the risk of preterm birth <37 weeks (relative risk, 0.64; 95% confidence interval, 0.50-0.81; I2=75%; 95% prediction interval, 0.31-1.32; very low-quality evidence) and <34 weeks (relative risk, 0.62; 95% confidence interval, 0.42-0.92; I2=66%; 95% prediction interval, 0.23-1.68; very low-quality evidence), and the risk of admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (relative risk, 0.53; 95% confidence interval, 0.33-0.85; I2=67%; 95% prediction interval, 0.16-1.79; low-quality evidence). There were no significant differences between the vaginal progesterone and the placebo or no treatment groups in other adverse perinatal and maternal outcomes. Subgroup analyses revealed that vaginal progesterone decreased the risk of preterm birth <37 weeks (relative risk, 0.43; 95% confidence interval, 0.33-0.55; I2=0%) and <34 weeks (relative risk, 0.27; 95% confidence interval, 0.15-0.49; I2=0%) in the small but not in the large studies (relative risk, 0.98; 95% confidence interval, 0.88-1.09; I2=0% for preterm birth <37 weeks; and relative risk, 0.94; 95% confidence interval, 0.78-1.13; I2=0% for preterm birth <34 weeks). Sensitivity analyses restricted to studies at low risk of bias indicated that vaginal progesterone did not reduce the risk of preterm birth <37 weeks (relative risk, 0.96; 95% confidence interval, 0.84-1.09) and <34 weeks (relative risk, 0.90; 95% confidence interval, 0.71-1.15). There was clear evidence of substantial small-study effects in the meta-analyses of preterm birth <37 and <34 weeks of gestation because of funnel plot asymmetry and the marked differences in the pooled relative risks obtained from fixed-effect and random-effects models. The adjustment for small-study effects resulted in a markedly reduced and nonsignificant effect of vaginal progesterone on preterm birth <37 weeks (relative risk, 0.86; 95% confidence interval, 0.68-1.10) and <34 weeks (relative risk, 0.92; 95% confidence interval, 0.60-1.42).

CONCLUSION

There is no convincing evidence supporting the use of vaginal progesterone to prevent recurrent preterm birth or to improve perinatal outcomes in singleton gestations with a history of spontaneous preterm birth.

Perinatal care for the extremely preterm infant

Being born preterm (prior to 37 weeks of completed gestation) is a leading cause of childhood death up to five years of age, and is responsible for the demise of around one million preterm infants each year. Rates of prematurity, which range from approximately 5 to 18% of births, are increasing in most countries. Babies born extremely preterm (less than 28 weeks' gestation) and in particular, in the periviable (20^0/7-25^6/7 weeks) period, are at the highest risk of death, or the development of long-term disabilities. The perinatal care of extremely preterm infants and their mothers raises a number of clinical, technical, and ethical challenges. Focusing on 'micropremmies', or those born in the periviable period, this paper provides an update regarding the aetiology and impacts of periviable preterm birth, advances in the antenatal, intrapartum, and acute post-natal management of these infants, and a review of counselling/support approaches for engaging with the infant's family. It concludes with an overview of emerging technology that may assist in improving outcomes for this at-risk population.

In utero exposure to 17α-hydroxyprogesterone caproate and risk of cancer in offspring

BACKGROUND

17α-hydroxyprogesterone caproate is a synthetic progestogen initially approved in the 1950s to treat gynecologic and obstetrical conditions. Despite continued concerns about safety and short-term efficacy regarding the use of 17α-hydroxyprogesterone caproate for the prevention of preterm birth in pregnant women, little is known about the long-term effects of 17α-hydroxyprogesterone caproate on the health of the offsprings.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the association between in utero exposure to 17α-hydroxyprogesterone caproate and the risk of cancer in the offspring.

STUDY DESIGN

The Child Health and Development Studies was a population-based cohort of >18,000 mother-child dyads receiving prenatal care in the Kaiser Foundation Health Plan (Oakland, CA) between 1959 and 1966. Clinical information was abstracted from the mothers' medical records beginning 6 months before pregnancy through delivery. We identified the number and timing of 17α-hydroxyprogesterone caproate injections during pregnancy. Incident cancers diagnosed in the offspring were ascertained through 2019 by linkage to the California Cancer Registry. We used the Cox proportional hazard models to estimate the adjusted hazard ratios and their 95% confidence intervals, with the follow-up time accrued from the date of birth through the date of cancer diagnosis, death, or last contact.

RESULTS

A total of 1008 offspring were diagnosed with cancer over 730,817 person-years of follow-up. Approximately 1.0% of the offspring (n=234) were exposed in utero to 17α-hydroxyprogesterone caproate. Exposure in the first trimester was associated with an increased risk of any cancer (adjusted hazard ratio, 2.57; 95% confidence interval, 1.59-4.15), and the risk increased with the number of injections (1-2 injections: adjusted hazard ratio, 1.80; 95% confidence interval, 1.12-2.90; ≥3 injections: adjusted hazard ratio, 3.07; 95% confidence interval, 1.34-7.05). Exposure in the second or third trimester conferred an additional risk for the male (adjusted hazard ratio, 2.59; 95% confidence interval, 1.07-6.28) but not for the female (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.30; 95% confidence interval, 0.04-1.11) offspring. The risk of colorectal (adjusted hazard ratio, 5.51; 95% confidence interval, 1.73-17.59), prostate (adjusted hazard ratio, 5.10; 95% confidence interval, 1.24-21.00), and pediatric brain (adjusted hazard ratio, 34.72; 95% confidence interval, 7.29-164.33) cancer was higher in the offspring first exposed to 17α-hydroxyprogesterone caproate in the first trimester than the offspring not exposed.

CONCLUSION

Caution using 17α-hydroxyprogesterone caproate in early pregnancy is warranted, given the possible link with cancer in the offspring.

Use of cervical elastography at 18 to 22 weeks' gestation in the prediction of spontaneous preterm birth

BACKGROUND

Accurate identification of the women who will have spontaneous preterm birth continues to be a great challenge. The use of cervical elastography for prediction of preterm birth is promising, but several limitations exist. Newer cervical elastography technology has been developed that may prove useful in evaluation of risk of preterm birth.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to develop standard cervical elastography nomograms for singleton pregnancies at 18 to 22 weeks' gestation using the E-Cervix ultrasound application, assess intraobserver reliability of the E-Cervix elastography parameters, and determine whether these cervical elastography measurements can be used in the prediction of spontaneous preterm birth.

STUDY DESIGN

This was a prospective cohort study of pregnant women undergoing cervical length screening assessment via transvaginal ultrasound examination at 18 to 22 weeks' gestation. A semiautomatic, cervical elastography application (E-Cervix) was used during the transvaginal examination to calculate 5 quantitative parameters (internal os stiffness, external os stiffness, internal -to -external os stiffness ratio, hardness ratio, and elasticity contrast index) and create a standard nomogram for each one of them. The intraobserver reliability was calculated using Shrout-Fleiss reliability. Cervical elastography parameters were compared between those who delivered preterm (<37 weeks) spontaneously and those who delivered full term. A multivariable logistic regression model was performed to determine the ability of the cervical elastography parameters to predict spontaneous preterm birth.

RESULTS

A total of 742 women were included, of which 49 (6.6%) had a spontaneous preterm delivery. A standard nomogram was created for each of the cervical elastography parameters from those who had a full-term birth in the index pregnancy (n=693). Intraobserver reliability was good or excellent (intraclass correlation, 0.757-0.887) for each of the cervical elastography parameters except external os stiffness which was poor (intraclass correlation, 0.441). In univariate analysis, none of the cervical elastography parameters were associated with a statistically significant increased risk of spontaneous preterm birth. In a multivariable model adjusting for history of preterm birth, gravidity, ethnicity, cervical cerclage, and vaginal progesterone use, increasing elasticity contrast index was significantly associated with an increased risk of spontaneous preterm birth (odds ratio, 1.15; 95% confidence interval, 1.02-1.30; P=.02).

CONCLUSION

Cervical elastography parameters are reliably measured and are stable across 18 to 22 weeks' gestation. Based on our findings, the elasticity contrast index was associated with an increased risk of spontaneous preterm birth and may be a useful parameter for future research.

Developmental exposure to the synthetic progestin, 17α-hydroxyprogesterone caproate, disrupts the mesocortical serotonin pathway and alters impulsive decision-making in rats

The synthetic progestin, 17α-hydroxyprogesterone caproate (17-OHPC), is administered to women at risk for preterm birth during a critical period of fetal development for mesocortical pathways. Yet, little information is available regarding the potential effects of 17-OHPC on the developing fetal brain. In rat models, the mesocortical serotonin pathway is sensitive to progestins. Progesterone receptor (PR) is expressed in layer 3 pyramidal neurons of medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and in serotonergic neurons of the dorsal raphe. The present study tested the hypothesis that exposure to 17-OHPC during development disrupts serotonergic innervation of the mPFC in adolescence and impairs behavior mediated by this pathway in adulthood. Administration of 17-OHPC from postnatal days 1-14 decreased the density of SERT-ir fibers within superficial and deep layers and decreased the density of synaptophysin-ir boutons in all layers of prelimbic mPFC at postnatal day 28. In addition, rats exposed to 17-OHPC during development were less likely to make impulsive choices in the Delay Discounting task, choosing the larger, delayed reward more often than controls at moderate delay times. Interestingly, 17-OHPC exposed rats were more likely to fail to make any choice (i.e., increased omissions) compared to controls at longer delays, suggesting disruptions in decision-making. These results suggest that further investigation is warranted in the clinical use of 17-OHPC to better inform a risk/benefit analysis of progestin use in pregnancy.

Women and babies are dying from inertia: a collaborative framework for obstetrical drug development is urgently needed

Obstetrical complications, often referred to as the "great obstetrical syndromes," are among the most common global causes of mortality and morbidity in young women and their infants. However, treatments for these syndromes are underdeveloped compared with other fields of medicine and are urgently needed. This current paucity of treatments for obstetrical complications is a reflection of the challenges of drug development in pregnancy. The appetite of pharmaceutical companies to invest in research for obstetrical syndromes is generally reduced by concerns for maternal, fetal, and infant safety, poor definition, and high-risk regulatory paths toward product approval. Notably, drug candidates require large investments for development with an unguaranteed return on investment. Furthermore, the discovery of promising drug candidates is hampered by a poor understanding of the pathophysiology of obstetrical syndromes and their uniqueness to human pregnancies. This limits translational extrapolation and de-risking strategies in preclinical studies, as available for other medical areas, compounded with limited fetal safety monitoring to capture early prenatal adverse reactions. In addition, the ethical review committees are reluctant to approve the inclusion of pregnant women in trials, and in the absence of regulatory guidance in obstetrics, clinical development programs are subject to unpredictable regulatory paths. To develop effective and safe drugs for pregnancy complications, substantial commitment, and investment in research for innovative therapies are needed in parallel with the creation of an enabling ethical, legislative, and guidance framework. Solutions are proposed to enable stakeholders to work with a common set of expectations to facilitate progress in this medical discipline. Addressing this significant unmet need to advance maternal and possibly perinatal health requires the involvement of all stakeholders and specifically patients, couples, and clinicians facing pregnancy complications in the dearth of appropriate therapies. This paper focused on the key pharmaceutical research and development challenges to achieve effective and safe treatments for obstetrical syndromes.