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Prophylactic Tributyrin Supplementation in Acute Pancreatitis

Phase 2
Recruiting
Conditions
Acute Pancreatitis
Interventions
Dietary Supplement: Micro-encapsulated granules of tributyrin (intervention)
Dietary Supplement: Micro-encapsulated granules of sunflower oil (placebo)
Registration Number
NCT06147635
Lead Sponsor
St. Antonius Hospital
Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to investigate the possible effects of tributyrin supplementation in patients with a first episode of acute pancreatitis. The main question it aims to answer is:

• The effect of oral tributyrin supplementation on the plasma endotoxin level

Participants will be randomized between two groups: intervention and control group. They will receive:

- three times daily 4grams of micro-encapsulated granules of tributyrin, and the control group three times daily 4 grams of micro-encapsulated sunflower oil (i.e. placebo), for a total of 14 days

In total 92 adult patients with a first episode of acute pancreatitis will be included.

Detailed Description

Rationale: Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a common gastrointestinal disorder requiring acute hospitalization. Around 20% of patients that present with acute pancreatitis eventually develop severe complications such as (multiple) organ failure, (peri-) pancreatic necrosis, and secondary infections (i.e. infected necrosis, bacteraemia, pneumonia). The gut, especially the gut microbiome, is likely to play a role in development of infectious complications. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) produced by the gut microbiota, such as butyrate, are known immunomodulators of the host response and exert local beneficial effects on the gut barrier and microbiota. Currently, there are no safe and effective therapies to mitigate disease severity that can be administered in the early phase of pancreatitis. We hypothesize that orally administered tributyrin, a pro-drug of butyrate, might beneficially influence disease progression in acute pancreatitis and may be useful as prophylaxis.

Objective: The main objective is to investigate the effect of oral tributyrin on plasma endotoxin in patients with acute pancreatitis after 3 days of treatment.

Study design: Phase IIa (Proof of concept) double-blind randomized placebo-controlled food supplement trial.

Study population: 92 adult patients with a first episode of acute pancreatitis.

Intervention: The intervention group receives three times daily 4g micro-encapsulated granules of tributyrin and the control group receives three times daily an equivalent volume of micro-encapsulated vegetable oil (i.e. placebo), for a total of maximum 14 days.

Main study parameters/endpoints: The primary endpoint is plasma endotoxin concentration after 3 days of tributyrin treatment. Secondary endpoints include toxicity, clinical outcomes, intestinal permeability, fecal SCFA concentrations, intestinal microbiota composition and systemic inflammatory response parameters (pulse, respiratory rate, temperature and white blood cell count).

Nature and extent of the burden and risks associated with participation, benefit and group relatedness: The blood sampling at inclusion, and day 3 and 7 of treatment are preferably combined with regular blood sampling. Participants may experience minor discomfort from rectal swabs. Phase 1 studies with oral tributyrin conducted in patients with solid tumors did not report serious adverse events. However, there is a risk of unanticipated adverse events in our target population. An independent data safety and monitoring board (DSMB) will discuss all reported serious adverse events (SAE's).

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
92
Inclusion Criteria
  • First episode of acute pancreatitis (AP)
  • Able to read and/or understand the study procedures
  • Able to give informed consent (or their legal representatives)
  • <24 hours after diagnosis of AP
  • <72 hours after onset of symptoms of AP
Exclusion Criteria
  • Pancreatitis due to endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), malignancy or trauma
  • Post-operative pancreatitis
  • Intra-operative diagnosis
  • Immunocompromised patients (history or current immunosuppressive treatment such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, longer use of immunosuppressive medication or recent high doses, immunocompromised illness' such as AIDS, leukemia, lymphoma)
  • Pregnancy and/or lactation
  • Age <18 years old
  • History of recurrent or chronic (MANNHEIM criteria25) pancreatitis (see Appendix 15.1 for definition)

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Intervention groupMicro-encapsulated granules of tributyrin (intervention)Micro-encapsulated tributyrin granules, 4 grams three times daily, for a maximum of 14 days
Control groupMicro-encapsulated granules of sunflower oil (placebo)Micro-encapsulated sunflower oil granules, 4 grams three times daily, for a maximum of 14 days
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Plasma endotoxin levelsMeasured 3 days after randomisation

Plasma endotoxin levels

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Infectious complicationsDuring the whole study period including follow-up of 90 days

The occurence of infected pancreatic necrosis, bacteremia, pneumonia, urosepsis, and/or infected ascites

Systemic inflammatory response parameters (SIRS): respiratory rateDuring the initial admission

Respiratory rate measured in breaths per minute

Systemic inflammatory response parameters (SIRS): white blood cell countDuring the initial admission

White blood cell count

MortalityDuring the whole study period including follow-up of 90 days

Occurence of death

(Peri-)pancreatic necrosisDuring the whole study period including follow-up of 90 days

The occurence of (peri)pancreatic necrosis

Length of hospital and/or ICU stayDuring the whole study period including follow-up of 90 days

Measured in days

ReadmissionsDuring the whole study period including follow-up of 90 days

The occurrence and number of readmissions

Systemic inflammatory response parameters (SIRS): temperatureDuring the initial admission

Temperature measured in degrees celsius

Endocrine insufficiencyDuring the whole study period including follow-up of 90 days

Endocrine insufficiency

Systemic inflammatory response parameters (SIRS): pulseDuring the initial admission

Pulse measured in beats per minute

(New onset) transient/persistant (multiple) organ failureDuring the whole study period including follow-up of 90 days

The occurence of (new onset) transient/persistant (multiple) organ failure

Disease severity according to the revised Atlanta ClassificationDuring the whole study period including follow-up of 90 days

Disease severity according to the revised Atlanta Classification

The need (and number of) for surgical, endoscopic or radiologic interventionsDuring the whole study period including follow-up of 90 days

The need (and number of) for surgical, endoscopic or radiologic interventions

Exocrine insufficiencyDuring the whole study period including follow-up of 90 days

Exocrine insufficiency

Fecal and saliva microbiota and fecal metabolomics (i.e., SCFAs) analysisDuring the whole study period including follow-up of 90 days

Fecal and saliva microbiota and fecal metabolomics (i.e., SCFAs) analysis

Trial Locations

Locations (2)

Reinier de Graaf Gasthuis

🇳🇱

Delft, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands

St. Antonius Hospital

🇳🇱

Nieuwegein, Utrecht, Netherlands

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