PPROMS study

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Preterm Premature Rupture of Membranes: Strength and structure of the fetal membrane

• IRAS ID

  147559

• Contact name

  Pensee Wu

• Contact email

  Pensee.Wu@uhns.nhs.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  University Hospital of North Staffordshire NHS Trust

• Research summary

  Preterm premature rupture of the membranes (PPROM) complicates 1-5% of all pregnancies, and precedes 30–40% of all preterm deliveries. It can result in significant neonatal morbidity and mortality. The causes of PPROM are multifactorial. Some are caused by infections within the womb or within the oral cavity.

  We hypothesize that women with PPROM have weaker and structural abnormal membranes, and/or have higher inflammatory markers and/or oral cavity infections compared with women with term rupture of membranes. We will collect 20 placentas and mouth swabs from 6 groups of women (total=120 placentas) delivering at University Hospital of North Staffordshire:
  1. Women who had PPROM, with signs of infection or fever during labour
  2. Women who had PPROM, without signs of infection or fever during labour
  3. Women who ruptured membranes spontaneously at term, with signs of infection or fever during labour
  4. Women who ruptured membranes spontaneously at term, without signs of infection or fever during labour
  5. Women who required to have artificial rupture of membranes in hospital at term, and had no signs of infection or fever during labour
  6. Women who did not labour, underwent elective Caesarean sections at term, and had no signs of infection or fever

  At Guy Hilton Research Centre, we will test and compare the physical properties and biochemistry of placental membranes.
  1. Membrane contraction will be tested by confining to dimensions of a ring and analysing confined contraction by change of thickness of the placental membrane via a specialised camera.
  2. Mechanical properties of the membranes will be measured using a spherical indentation technique
  3. Biochemical and histological studies will be performed to mainly determine their collagen/elastin composition and morphology.

  We will also grow cultures of mouth swabs to detect any bacterial presence.

  Our longer term aim is to develop a test which is predictive of PPROM early in pregnancy and monitor any at-risk pregnancies.

• REC name

  West Midlands - Solihull Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  14/WM/1169

• Date of REC Opinion

  4 Nov 2014

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion