MedPath

Mesalamine in Environmental Enteropathy

Phase 1
Completed
Conditions
Malnutrition
Interventions
Drug: Placebo granules
Registration Number
NCT01841099
Lead Sponsor
Kelsey Jones
Brief Summary

Undernutrition is one of the most important health issues in Kenya. Children who are chronically undernourished do not reach their full potential and are at increased risk of infectious disease. Stunting occurs in a third of Kenyan children and has severe and long-term consequences in terms of health, development, and poverty. Several studies have shown that stunting is frequently associated with subclinical inflammation of the bowel, a condition referred to as Environmental Enteropathy (EE), previously known as 'tropical sprue' or 'tropical enteropathy'. EE is clinically similar to childhood inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), including Crohn's disease. The treatment of IBD routinely involves provision of gut immunomodulatory agents, but this approach has never been tried in EE.

This proposal outlines a pilot double-blind randomised placebo-controlled trial of mesalamine (also called mesalazine - the safest immunomodulator used in IBD with least systemic activity) in treatment of severely malnourished children with EE.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
44
Inclusion Criteria
  • Children aged 1 to 5 years old.
  • Provision of informed consent by parent or guardian.
  • Stunting (height for age z score <-2)
  • Severe malnutrition (one or more of mid-upper arm circumference <11.5cm, weight for height z score <-3, or nutritional oedema).
  • Eligible for outpatient management of malnutrition (i.e. no evidence of acute infection, and passes 'appetite test' according to national guidelines).
  • Evidence of chronic inflammation (elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, ESR >20mm/hr).
Exclusion Criteria
  • Known HIV disease or tuberculosis.
  • Known previous renal disease or asthma.
  • Known allergy or hypersensitivity to mesalamine, other salicylate drugs, or any of the product ingredients.
  • Biochemical evidence of acute renal or hepatic impairment on screening blood tests.
  • Thrombocytopenia
  • Recent (previous two weeks) bloody diarrhoea.
  • Concurrent medication known to interact with the study drug (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, ranitidine, proton-pump inhibitors)
  • Acute infection requiring treatment, e.g. lower respiratory tract infection or febrile illness.
  • Other reason at the discretion of the attending clinician (independent of the trial team).

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Placebo granulesPlacebo granulesPlacebo granules
MesalamineMesalamineMesalamine. Mesalamine granules. 30 mg/kg/day oral for 7 days followed by 50 mg/kg/day oral for 21 days if tolerated.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Frequency of adverse events/serious adverse eventsDay 0 to day 28 and day 0 to day 56

This trial represents the first time a member of a class of drugs are to be used in a particular vulnerable group patient group. It's primary purpose is to conduct an early evaluation of safety and acceptability in this and the study is not powered to address any specific outcomes. It represents a modified Phase IIa design

Compliance with treatmentDay 0 to day 28

This trial represents the first time a member of a class of drugs are to be used in a particular vulnerable group patient group. It's primary purpose is to conduct an early evaluation of safety and acceptability in this and the study is not powered to address any specific outcomes. It represents a modified Phase IIa design

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Changes in fecal calprotectin levelsDay 0 - Day 28 and Day 0 - Day 56
Changes in plasma beta-2 microglobulinDay 0 - Day 28 and Day 0 - Day 56
Changes in plasma soluble-CD14Day 0 - Day 28 and Day 0 - Day 56
Changes in weightDay 0 - Day 28 and Day 0 - Day 56

g/kg/day

Changes in plasma neopterinDay 0 - Day 28 and Day 0 - Day 56
Changes in heightDay 0 to 28 and day 0 to day 56

mm/day

Changes in levels of anti-Endotoxin Core IgG (EndoCAb)Day 0 - Day 28 and Day 0 - Day 56
Changes in mid-upper arm circumferenceDay 0 - Day 28 and Day 0 - Day 56

mm/day

Changes in C-Reactive ProteinDay 0 - Day 28, and Day 0 - Day56

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Baraka Clinic

🇰🇪

Nairobi, Mathare, Kenya

Baraka Clinic
🇰🇪Nairobi, Mathare, Kenya

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