Prophylactic Probiotics to Extremely Low Birth Weight Prematures
Sweden134 participantsStarted 2012-06
Plain-language summary
Mortality and incidence of severe complications is still high among extremely premature infants. Common causes of severe complications in this population are poor nutrition, necrotizing enterocolitis, and severe infections. Feeding intolerance is also a common problem resulting in prolonged need for intravenous lines and poor nutrition.
The aim of the study is to evaluate whether supplementation with the probiotic bacterium Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 daily to premature infants with extremely low birth weight increases feeding tolerance to breast milk and thereby improves nutrition, increases growth and reduces serious complications and mortality in this population. Beyond this, possible mechanisms underlying these effects will be analyzed in stool, breast milk and blood samples.
Who can participate
Age range
1 Day – 3 Days
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Birth weight \< 1000 g
* Gestational age: v23+0-V27 +6.
* Age \< 72 hours at inclusion.
* Signed informed consent by parents.
Exclusion Criteria:
* Fatal or complex congenital malformation at inclusion time.
* Chromosomal defect at inclusion time.
* No realistic hope of survival at inclusion time.
* Gastrointestinal malformation at inclusion time.
* Participation in another study which aims to influence nutrition, growth, feeding tolerance or necrotizing enterocolitis.
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.