Very Low Birth Weight InfantsNCT01443091
Oropharyngeal Colostrum for Immune Stimulation in Very Low Birth Weight Infants
A study testing application of mother's own colostrum and application of sterile water in people with Very Low Birth Weight Infants, run by Milton S. Hershey Medical Center at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
Colostrum, mothers' early breastmilk, contains multiple factors that provide immune protection to very low birth weight (VLBW) infants, a population at high risk for hospital-acquired infections. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages Up to 3 daysHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Very Low Birth Weight Infants
- What is being tested?
- application of mother's own colostrum and application of sterile water
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 43 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- Jan 2011to Dec 2013
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages Up to 3 days
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child
Who may be able to join
- infants with a birth weight less than 1500 grams (or 3.3 lbs) born at Penn State Hershey Medical Center and admitted to the PSUCH NICU immediately after birth
Who cannot join
- Infants with major congenital anomalies or chromosomal syndromes incompatible with life Infants of mothers not willing to provide colostrum for their infant in the first week of life Infants of mothers with known HIV, Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C as these infections may be transmitted through breast milk
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
Hershey, Pennsylvania, 17033
About this study
Colostrum, mothers' early breastmilk, contains multiple factors that provide immune protection to very low birth weight (VLBW) infants, a population at high risk for hospital-acquired infections. However, critical illness during the first few days of life often prevents the initiation of enteral feeds, placing these infants at even higher risk for morbidities including feeding intolerance and infection. Oropharyngeal administration has been proposed as an alternative route of delivery for colostrum and the immune benefits it provides. Research from animal and adult human models supports oropharyngeal administration as a potentially safe and effective mode of delivery for immune therapies. Immune components of colostrum, such as secretory IgA, may have both direct and indirect effects on the immune system. The purpose of this proposed randomized, placebo-controlled pilot study is to determine the effect of oropharyngeally administered colostrum (OAC) on immune stimulation in VLBW infants, as measured by secretory IgA (sIgA) levels. In addition to measuring sIgA response to OAC the investigators will also collect clinical data to determine if OAC has effects on tolerance of enteral feedings and rates of infection. The investigators hypothesize OAC will have a moderate effect on salivary secretory IgA concentration in VLBW infants. If proven efficacious, utilization of OAC in VLBW infants could have far reaching consequences for these highly fragile babies including lower rates of infection, improved tolerance of enteral feedings, and shorter NICU stays.
- Conditions
- Very Low Birth Weight Infants
- Being tested
- application of mother's own colostrum, application of sterile water
- Keywords
- very low birth weight infants, VLBW infants, colostrum
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
application of mother's own colostrumOther
application of 0.2mL of mother's own colostrum to the infant's oropharyngeal mucosa every 3 hours for 5 days (day of life 2 until day of life 7)
application of sterile waterOther
application of 0.2mL sterile water to the infant's oropharyngeal mucosa every 3 hours for 5 days (from day of life 2 until day of life 7)
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Colostrum | Experimental | Not described Receives: Other: application of mother's own colostrum |
| Sterile water | Placebo comparator | Not described Receives: Other: application of sterile water |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in salivary secretory Ig-A concentration from baseline to 2 weeks of age
Measured: 2 weeks of age
Secondary outcomes (2)
time to reach full enteric feeds
day of life when full enteral feeds attained, defined as a volume of 140-150mL/kg/day
Measured: first few weeks of age
episodes of suspected or culture positive sepsis
number of documented septic events either culture proven or those treated with a full course of antibiotics 7-14 days
Measured: initial hospital stay 1-3 months
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted29 Sep 2011 (estimated)
- Study startJan 2011
- Primary completionJun 2013
- Study completionDec 2013
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Very Low Birth Weight InfantsStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Milton S. Hershey Medical CenterThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 43 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Children's Miracle Network
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Kristen M. Glass, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
- Investigators
- Kristen M Glass, MD, Principal investigator, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center/Penn State College of Medicine
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT01443091
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- CMNPSU-35083
- Status last verified
- Apr 2015
- First submitted
- 26 Sep 2011
- Last updated
- 30 May 2017
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 30 May 2017. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Oropharyngeal Colostrum for Immune Stimulation in Very Low Birth Weight Infants
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT01443091
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- CMNPSU-35083
- Conditions
- Very Low Birth Weight Infants
- Keywords
- very low birth weight infants, VLBW infants, colostrum
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 43 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Milton S. Hershey Medical CenterUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Children's Miracle Network
- Study start
- Jan 2011
- Primary completion
- Jun 2013 (actual)
- Study completion
- Dec 2013 (actual)
- First posted
- 29 Sep 2011 (estimated)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Colostrum, mothers' early breastmilk, contains multiple factors that provide immune protection to very low birth weight (VLBW) infants, a population at high risk for hospital-acquired infections. However, critical illness during the first few days of life often prevents the initiation of enteral feeds, placing these infants at even higher risk for morbidities including feeding intolerance and infection. Oropharyngeal administration has been proposed as an alternative route of delivery for colostrum and the immune benefits it provides. Research from animal and adult human models supports oropharyngeal administration as a potentially safe and effective mode of delivery for immune therapies. Immune components of colostrum, such as secretory IgA, may have both direct and indirect effects on the immune system. The purpose of this proposed randomized, placebo-controlled pilot study is to determine the effect of oropharyngeally administered colostrum (OAC) on immune stimulation in VLBW infants, as measured by secretory IgA (sIgA) levels. In addition to measuring sIgA response to OAC the investigators will also collect clinical data to determine if OAC has effects on tolerance of enteral feedings and rates of infection. The investigators hypothesize OAC will have a moderate effect on salivary secretory IgA concentration in VLBW infants. If proven efficacious, utilization of OAC in VLBW infants could have far reaching consequences for these highly fragile babies including lower rates of infection, improved tolerance of enteral feedings, and shorter NICU stays.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Colostrum | Experimental | Other: application of mother's own colostrum |
| Sterile water | Placebo comparator | Other: application of sterile water |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- Up to 3 days
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- infants with a birth weight less than 1500 grams (or 3.3 lbs) born at Penn State Hershey Medical Center and admitted to the PSUCH NICU immediately after birth
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Infants with major congenital anomalies or chromosomal syndromes incompatible with life Infants of mothers not willing to provide colostrum for their infant in the first week of life Infants of mothers with known HIV, Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C as these infections may be transmitted through breast milk
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| application of mother's own colostrumapplication of 0.2mL of mother's own colostrum to the infant's oropharyngeal mucosa every 3 hours for 5 days (day of life 2 until day of life 7) | Other | Colostrum |
| application of sterile waterapplication of 0.2mL sterile water to the infant's oropharyngeal mucosa every 3 hours for 5 days (from day of life 2 until day of life 7) | Other | Sterile water |
Primary outcome
Change in salivary secretory Ig-A concentration from baseline to 2 weeks of age
Time frame: 2 weeks of age
2 secondary outcomes
time to reach full enteric feeds
Time frame: first few weeks of age
episodes of suspected or culture positive sepsis
Time frame: initial hospital stay 1-3 months
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 30 May 2017.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Kristen M Glass, MD principal investigator
Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center/Penn State College of Medicine
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing application of mother's own colostrum and application of sterile water in people with Very Low Birth Weight Infants, run by Milton S. Hershey Medical Center at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 30 May 2017. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change in salivary secretory Ig-A concentration from baseline to 2 weeks of age (time frame: 2 weeks of age). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 30 May 2017; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 7 Nov 2026.