Evidence map›Paper›PMID 29813074›Full record

Trial reportPloS one2018

Safety of a silicone elastomer vaginal ring as potential microbicide delivery method in African women: A Phase 1 randomized trial.

Annaléne Nel, Janine Martins, Linda-Gail Bekker, Gita Ramjee, Gileard Masenga, Helen Rees, Neliëtte van Niekerk

Open access · goldAbstract readClinical Trial, Phase IMulticenter StudyRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in PloS one, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
0.9field-weighted citation impact, top 28% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 6 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 5 institutions in 3 countries.

Annaléne NelInternational Partnership for Microbicides, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States of America.
Janine MartinsInternational Partnership for Microbicides, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States of America.ORCID 0000-0003-2195-7314
Linda-Gail BekkerDesmond Tutu HIV Centre, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
Gita RamjeeSouth African Medical Research Council, Durban, South Africa.
Gileard MasengaKilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, Moshi, Tanzania.
Helen ReesReproductive Health and HIV Research Unit, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Neliëtte van NiekerkInternational Partnership for Microbicides, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States of America.
International Partnership for Microbicides · USDesmond Tutu HIV Foundation · ZAKilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre · TZPerinatal HIV Research Unit · ZASouth African Medical Research Council · ZA

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundWomen in sub-Saharan Africa are in urgent need of female-initiated human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) preventative methods. Vaginal rings are one dosage form in development for delivery of HIV microbicides. However, African women have limited experience with vaginal rings.

objectivesThis Phase I, randomized, crossover trial assessed and compared the safety, acceptability and adherence of a silicone elastomer placebo vaginal ring, intended as a microbicide delivery method, inserted for a 12-week period in healthy, HIV-negative, sexually active women in South Africa and Tanzania.

methods170 women, aged 18 to 35 years were enrolled with 88 women randomized to Group A, using a placebo vaginal ring for 12 weeks followed by a 12-week safety observation period. 82 women were randomized to Group B and observed for safety first, followed by a placebo vaginal ring for 12 weeks. Safety was assessed by clinical laboratory assessments, pelvic/colposcopy examinations and adverse events. Possible carry-over effect was addressed by ensuring no signs or symptoms of genital irritation at crossover.

resultsNo safety concerns were identified for any safety variables assessed during the trial. No serious adverse events were reported considered related to the placebo vaginal ring. Vaginal candidiasis was the most common adverse event occurring in 11% of participants during each trial period. Vaginal discharge (2%), vaginal odour (2%), and bacterial vaginitis (2%) were assessed as possibly or probably related to the vaginal ring. Thirty-four percent of participants had sexually transmitted infections (STIs) at screening, compared to 12% of participants who tested positive for STIs at crossover and the final trial visit. Three participants (2%) tested HIV positive during the trial.

conclusionsThe silicone elastomer vaginal ring had no safety concerns, demonstrating a profile favorable for further development for topical release of antiretroviral-based microbicides.

Indexed as

Administration, IntravaginalAdolescentAdultAnti-HIV AgentsContraceptive Devices, FemaleCross-Over StudiesFemaleHIV InfectionsHumansSilicone ElastomersSouth AfricaTanzaniaYoung AdultAnti-HIV AgentsSilicone Elastomers

Identifiers

PMID29813074
PMCPMC5973569
OpenAlexW2806226768

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.