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Effect of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in Slow Transit Constipation

Phase 2
Conditions
Slow Transit Constipation
Interventions
Procedure: Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT)
Registration Number
NCT02301221
Lead Sponsor
Jinling Hospital, China
Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of fecal microbiota transplantation in adults with slow transit constipation.

Detailed Description

Constipation is a chronic disease estimated to affect about 10% - 15% of the worldwide general population. Constipation frequency appears to augment with increasing age, particularly after 65 years old.

Recent evidence in the literature and collected in our laboratory confirm that constipation can be a consequence of intestinal dysbiosis, with an increase of potentially pathogenic microorganisms and a decrease of potentially beneficial microorganisms. These alterations may affect the motility and metabolic environment of colon, especially the production of short chain fatty acids (SCFAs).

A new and under-explored method to manipulate the gastrointestinal microbiota involves fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). There has been growing interest in the use of fecal microbiota for the treatment of patients with chronic gastrointestinal infections (e.g. CDI) and other extraintestinal conditions (e.g. IBD). Similarly, we suppose that reshaping the gut microbiome with FMT would be effective for patients with slow transit constipation.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
UNKNOWN
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
60
Inclusion Criteria
  • Chronic constipation according to Rome III criteria, defined as two or fewer spontaneous, complete bowel movements (SCBMs) per week for a minimum of 6 months;
  • Age ≥ 18 years;
  • BMI: 18.5-25 kg/m2;
  • Slow colonic transit confirmed by colonic transit test (colonic transit time (CTT) > 48 hours);
  • Normal anorectal manometry with no evidence of dyssynergia and confirmed ability to expel rectal balloon;
  • No radiographic evidence of functional (i.e. pelvic floor dyssynergia) or anatomical (i.e. significant rectocele and intussusception) impediment to the expulsion of the radio-opaque contrast;
  • Disease duration > 1 year;
  • Traditional treatment with dietary modification, laxatives (including osmotic and stimulant laxatives), and biofeedback tried over the past 6 months without success;
Exclusion Criteria
  • Bowel constipation due to innate factor (i.e. megacolon) or secondary interventions (i.e. drugs, endocrine, metabolic, neurologic or psychologic disorders);
  • History or evidence of gastrointestinal diseases (i.e. obstruction, cancer, inflammatory bowel diseases) ;
  • Previous abdominal surgery, except cholecystectomy, appendicectomy, tubal ligation and cesarean section;
  • Previous proctological or perianal surgery;
  • A constipation condition meeting the Rome III criteria for IBS or functional abdominal pain syndrome;
  • Pregnant or breast-feeding women;
  • Infection with enteric pathogen;
  • Usage of probiotics, prebiotics and/or synbiotics within the last month;
  • Usage of antibiotics and/or PPIs within the last 3 months;
  • Smoking or alcohol addiction within the last 3 months;
  • Uncontrolled hepatic, renal, cardiovascular, respiratory or psychiatric disease;
  • Disease or therapy with drugs (i.e. antidepressants, opioid narcotic analgesics, anticholinergics, calcium antagonists, nitrates, antimuscarinics) that, in the opinion of the investigator, could affect intestinal transit and microbiota.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
SINGLE_GROUP
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT)Vancomycin and bowel lavagePatients included will receive standard FMT, and then will be followed up for 24 weeks.
Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT)Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT)Patients included will receive standard FMT, and then will be followed up for 24 weeks.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Proportion of patients having on average three or more SCBMs/week24 weeks

Proportion of patients having on average three or more spontaneous, complete bowel movements (SCBMs) per week was evaluated at baseline and over the week interval 3-4, 9-12 and 21-24.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Constipation-related symptoms assessments24 weeks

Constipation-related symptoms were evaluated using the validated Patient Assessment of Constipation Symptoms (PAC-SYM) questionnaire at baseline and at week 4, 12, and 24.

Bowel habit assessments24 weeks

Patients kept daily diaries about times of bowel movements each day, stool consistency, degree of straining severity during defecation, and degree of sensation of incompleteness of evacuation.

Quality-of-Life assessments24 weeks

Quality-of-Life was evaluated using the validated Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life (PAC-QOL) self-report questionnaire at baseline and at week 4, 12, and 24.

Colonic transit time measurements24 weeks

Colonic transit time (CTT) was measured at baseline and at week 4, 12 and 24 with the Metcalf method.

Usage of laxatives or enemas as rescue medication24 weeks

If patients did not have a bowel movement for 3 or more consecutive days, they were permitted to take up to 20 g of Macrogol 4000 powder (Forlax). If ineffective, enema were used. Patients kept daily diaries about the rescue medication when used.

Adverse events24 weeks

Adverse events include fever, diarrhea, abdominal pain, increased bloating, borborygmi, flatulence, nausea, vomiting, nasopharyngitis, and any other disorders.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Department of Generay Surgery, Jinling hosptal, Medical School of Nanjing University

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Nanjing, Jiangsu, China

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