Intestinal Tuberculosis Diagnostics and the Differentiation From Crohn's Disease

• Conditions: Intestinal Tuberculosis; Crohn's Disease; Pulmonary Tuberculosis

• Registration Number: NCT01503099
• Lead Sponsor: Lovisenberg Diakonale Hospital

Brief Summary

One aims to devise a method for the screening and differentiation of intestinal tuberculosis and Crohn's Disease. Additionally, one aims to detect and survey multidrug resistant TB.

Detailed Description

Intestinal tuberculosis (ITB) and Crohn's disease (CD) may present identically; the consequence of misdiagnosing and mistreating one disease for the other may be grave. CD is on the increase worldwide while TB re-emerges in areas of low TB endemicity. Current diagnostic guidelines evolve from research in areas with low TB prevalence, thereby being inappropriate in TB endemic regions. To date, no simple or non-invasive methods exist to diagnose ITB and to differentiate it from CD.

One aims to devise a method for screening and differentiation of the two diseases. By using non-invasive rapid tests one wishes to make diagnostics available to resource poor settings. Ideally, referrals to invasive diagnostic procedures would decrease, thus liberating economic and staff resources. Furthermore, patients may avoid unnecessary, expensive and often inconclusive advanced procedures. Additionally, one aims to detect and survey multidrug resistance caused by empiric TB treatment, which in itself obscures ITB diagnosis.

This case control study matches 50 ITB patients and 50 CD patients with 100 healthy controls in India, and 50 CD patients with 100 healthy controls in Norway. Comparative statistical analysis will be carried out. Challenges include patient adherence and sample handling. Non-TB gastrointestinal infections may confound the results and will be adjusted for.

Recently published data suggests that the serum/faecal calprotectin ratio may be used to discriminate ITB from healthy subjects.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2009-10
• Status Verified: 2011-12
• Primary Completion: 2011-12
• Study First Submitted: 2011-12-30
• Study First Submitted QC: 2011-12-30
• Last Update Submitted: 2011-12-30
• Study First Posted: 2012-01-02
• Last Update Posted: 2012-01-02
• Study Completion: 2012-12

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: UNKNOWN
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 550

Inclusion Criteria

• Above 18 years of age.

• ITB as per standard criteria a), and one or more of b) to e) must be fulfilled (Gold standard):

  1. Endoscopic apparent intestinal tuberculosis: transverse ulcers, pseudopolyps, involvement of fewer than four intestinal segments, patulous ileo-coecal valve
  2. Histological evidence of tubercles/granulomas with caseation necrosis in intestinal biopsies
  3. DNA of M.tb detected by PCR of intestinal biopsies
  4. Positive immunohistochemistry in intestinal biopsies.
  5. Histological demonstration of acid fast bacilli in a lesion.

• Active Crohn's disease as per standard criteria (Gold standard), at least two of the following:

  1. Clinical: inflammatory, perforating (fistulising) disease, obstructive symptoms secondary to small bowel stenosis or stricture.
  2. Endoscopic: deep linear or serpingenous ulcerations, discrete ulcers in normal appearing mucosa, cobble-stoning or discontinuous or asymmetrical inflammation.
  3. Radiographic: segmental disease (skip lesions), small bowel or colonic strictures, stenosis or fistula.
  4. Histological: sub-mucosal or transmural inflammation, granulomas, focal cryptitis and chronic inflammatory infiltration, skip lesions including rectal sparing (no topical rectal therapy).

Exclusion Criteria

a) Age below 18 years b) HIV positive c) Malignancy

Study & Design

• Study Type: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Calprotectin levels in patients with active intestinal tuberculosis	18 months	Establishment of serum and faecal calprotectin levels in patients with active intestinal tuberculosis in comparison with healthy control subjects, patients with Crohn's Disease and patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Levels of calprotectin in patients with intestinal tuberculosis after antituberculous therapy.	18 months

Trial Locations

Locations (2)

Population Health & Research Institiute, Medical College; 🇮🇳 Trivandrum, Kerala, India

Lovisenberg Diakonal Hospital; 🇳🇴 Oslo, Norway