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Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in Irritable Bowel Syndrome With Bloating

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Interventions
Procedure: FMT with donor stool
Procedure: FMT with own stool
Registration Number
NCT02299973
Lead Sponsor
University Hospital, Ghent
Brief Summary

Intestinal microbiota dysbiosis is thought to play an important role in the complex pathophysiology of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), especially in diarrhoea-predominant IBS and possibly in IBS with severe bloating. Fecal microbiota transplantation or FMT has been shown to be an effective means of correcting this imbalance in the gut microbiota, especially in patients with recurrent Clostridium difficile infections where it has become a preferred treatment strategy.

In a preliminary pilot study in 12 patients we found that FMT was a safe and accepted therapy in IBS patients. In 75% of patients an amelioration of IBS symptoms in general and abdominal bloating was seen three months after transplantation.

In this study the effects of FMT on patients with IBS without constipation and bloating will be investigated in a double blind, placebo controlled RCT.

Detailed Description

Intestinal microbiota dysbiosis is thought to play an important role in the complex pathophysiology of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), especially in diarrhoea-predominant IBS and possibly in IBS with severe bloating. Fecal microbiota transplantation or FMT has been shown to be an effective means of correcting this imbalance in the gut microbiota, especially in patients with recurrent Clostridium difficile infections where it has become a preferred treatment strategy.

In a preliminary pilot study in 12 patients we found that FMT was a safe and accepted therapy in IBS patients. In 75% of patients an amelioration of IBS symptoms in general and abdominal bloating was seen three months after transplantation.

In this study the effects of FMT on patients with IBS without constipation and bloating will be investigated in a double blind, placebo controlled RCT. Donors for this study will be recruited from a healthy donor pool who will donate stool after clearance of a strict inclusion protocol which will assess the presence of any infectious diseases. Stool will be frozen following the protocol described in Hamilton et al 2012. Patients will deliver a stool portion that will be frozen as well.

At time of FMT, patients will be randomised in a double blinded fashion to the treatment arm (healthy donor stool) or placebo arm (own stool). Transplantation will be preformed by means of a colonoscopy with deliverance in the right colon and ileum.

Following FMT patients will be followed clinically with questionnaires and regular visits to the clinic. Stool samples will be collected on a regular basis for microbiome analysis.

At the end of the study, patients from the placebo-group will be given the opportunity to be transplanted with healthy donor stool if necessary. Follow-up will continu for a total duration of one year.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
64
Inclusion Criteria

Not provided

Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Treatment group (FMT with donor stool)FMT with donor stoolFecal microbiota transplantation with healthy donor stool
Placebo group (FMT with own stool)FMT with own stoolFecal microbiota transplantation with patient's own stool
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Reduction of overall IBS symptoms (Key question 1)3 months after FMT

On a weekly basis patients will assess their overall IBS symptoms by answering a key question (Are your overall symptoms improved as compared to before the treatment?)

Reduction of abdominal bloating (Key question 2)3 months after FMT

On a weekly basis patients will assess their sensation of abdominal bloating by answering a key question (Is your overall sensation of bloating improved by FMT as compared to before treatment?)

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Changes in IBS symptom scores at three months after FMT3 months after FMT

IBS symptoms will be assessed by use of a daily symptom diary which will measure abdominal discomfort, pain, bloating, flatulence, stool frequency, stool consistency and urgency

Changes in IBS symptom scores at six months post FMT6 months

Key questions and symptom diary scores will be repeated 6 months after FMT to assess the duration of effects

Composition of mucosal-adherent microbiota (Illumina sequencing)3 months

Composition of mucosal-adherent microbiota will be assessed by Illumina sequencing. Biopsies will be taken at time of FMT and snap frozen for further analysis.

Changes in IBS symtom scores at 9 months post FMT9 months

Key questions and symptom diary scores will be repeated 9 months after FMT to assess the duration of effects

Changes of IBS symptom scores in patients who undergo an off-trial FMT3 months

After unblinding patients who were included in the placebo group, will be offered the possibility of FMT. Effects in these patients will be followed by IBS symptoms scores and answers to key questions at 3 months post FMT

Changes in fecal microbiome composition (Illumina sequencing)3 months after FMT

Before and after FMT stool samples will be collected on a regular basis to assess the changes in microbiome changes (Illumina sequencing).

Changes in IBS symptom scores at 1 year post FMT1 year

Key questions and symptom diary scores will be repeated 1 year after FMT to assess the duration of effects

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Ghent University Hospital

🇧🇪

Ghent, Belgium

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