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GERD Infant Feeding Therapeutics Trial (GIFT Trial)

Not Applicable
Recruiting
Conditions
GERD in Infants
Interventions
Other: AR formula
Registration Number
NCT06114836
Lead Sponsor
Nationwide Children's Hospital
Brief Summary

The goal of this investigator-initiated, single-center, randomized controlled trial (RCT) is to compare the effects of four weeks of three therapies on clinical and mechanistic outcomes based on pH-Imp testing using a three-arm parallel design in NICU infants with objective GERD diagnosis. The three therapies being compared are natural maturation, proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use, and added rice (AR) formula use. The main goals are:

* to evaluate and compare the efficacy of the three commonly used treatment interventions used in the NICU for GERD in a randomized controlled manner with the primary endpoint of oral feeding success and absence of troublesome symptoms (as defined below).

* to characterize the mechanisms of primary end point (success or failure) using pH-Impedance metrics.

Detailed Description

In consented subjects, eligibility is determined after initial diagnostic 24-hour pH Impedance test. These subjects will be randomized to one of the 3 arms of the study (natural maturation, PPI, AR formula) for 4 weeks of treatment. A second 24-hour pH Impedance test will be done on therapy at 4 weeks or before discharge, whichever occurs first. Primary outcome will also be measured at 4 weeks or at discharge, whichever comes first.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
369
Inclusion Criteria
  • NICU infants of any gestational age who are between 37 - 47 weeks postmenstrual age at inception of the study meeting the following requirements:

    • GERD diagnosis using pH-impedance criteria (Acid Reflux Index ≥ 3% plus at least one of the following: # GER events >70 / day, Symptom Associated Probability ≥ 95%, Discal Baseline Impedance < 900 Ω)
    • Full enteral feeds
    • No current GERD therapies
Exclusion Criteria
  • Known lethal chromosomal abnormalities or complex congenital syndromes
  • Severe neurologic pathologies requiring neuroactive medications or neurosurgery
  • Positive airway pressure or oxygen flow > 4 LPM
  • Upper gastrointestinal malformations requiring surgery

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Proton Pump Inhibitor (PPI)OmeprazoleOmeprazole will be prescribed for 4 weeks using the dose of 1.5mg/kg/dose daily.
Added Rice (AR) FormulaAR formulaAdded rice formula will be ordered as the infant diet for the 4-week treatment period.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Achievement of primary outcome: Improvement or maintenance of oral feeding and/or absence of GERD symptoms (based on feeding method at inception)At 4 weeks of therapy or discharge, whichever occurs first

Achievement of the primary outcome will be measured by treatment group to determine efficacy. For subjects on full oral feeds at inception, the primary outcome will be met if there is maintenance of oral feeds AND absence of associated GERD symptoms. For subjects receiving any tube feeding at inception, the primary outcome will be met if there is improvement in oral feeding (ratio of oral to tube feeds) OR absence of troublesome symptoms. The metric for measuring the absence of troublesome symptoms will be vomiting \<2 times/day or coughing \<18 times/day.

Decrease in symptom associated probability on treatmentAt time 2 study (4 weeks or prior to discharge, whichever is earliest)

Change in symptom associated probability from time one pH impedance study (prior to treatment) to time 2 pH impedance study (during treatment) will be compared among treatment groups.

Decrease in ARI on treatmentAt time 2 study (4 weeks or prior to discharge, whichever is earliest)

Change in acid reflux index from time one pH impedance study (prior to treatment) to time 2 pH impedance study (during treatment) will be compared among treatment groups.

Decreased frequency of GER events on treatmentAt time 2 study (4 weeks or prior to discharge, whichever is earliest)

Change in number of reflux events from time one pH impedance study (prior to treatment) to time 2 pH impedance study (during treatment) will be compared among treatment groups.

Improvement (Increase) in distal baseline impedance on treatmentAt time 2 study (4 weeks or prior to discharge, whichever is earliest)

Change in distal baseline impedance from time one pH impedance study (prior to treatment) to time 2 pH impedance study (during treatment) will be compared among treatment groups.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Nationwide Children's Hospita

🇺🇸

Columbus, Ohio, United States

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