MedPath

Adipose Tissue Injection in Perianal Fistulas in Crohn´s Disease

Phase 2
Conditions
Crohn Disease
Perianal Fistulas
Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy
Treatment
Interventions
Procedure: saline
Procedure: Adipose tissue injection
Registration Number
NCT03904212
Lead Sponsor
University of Aarhus
Brief Summary

This randomized and placebo controlled study investigates the efficacy of injections with freshly harvested autologous adipose tissue in CD patients with complex perianal fistulas refractory to standard surgical and/or medical treatment. 140 CD patients will be included and randomized to either treatment with freshly harvested autologous adipose tissue or placebo (saline). Primary outcome measures are clinical healing 6 months after treatment evaluated by clinical examination and pelvic MRI.

Detailed Description

Injection with freshly harvested autologous adipose tissue has been reported to be an efficient treatment of perianal fistulas in patients with Crohn´s Disease (CD). In a prospective observational study 57 % of 21 patients with complex fistulas refractory to combined surgical and/or medical treatment achieved complete clinical healing of the treated fistulas from one to three injections.

This randomized and placebo controlled study aims to confirm the efficacy of injections with freshly harvested autologous adipose tissue in CD patients with perianal fistulas. 140 CD patients with complex perianal fistulas refractory to standard surgical and/or medical treatment will be included and randomized to either treatment with freshly harvested autologous adipose tissue or placebo (saline). Clinical evaluation of the treatment efficacy will also be performed in a blinded manner.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
UNKNOWN
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
140
Inclusion Criteria
  • Diagnosed with Crohn´s Disease
  • Perianal fistula with out branching or cavities with one external and one internal opening, which due to the risk for development of incontinence is not suitable for lay-open procedure, meaning: 1) all anterior interspinchteric and low transpinchteric (involving<1/3 of spinchter) in women 2) high interspinchteric fistulas 3) high transspinchteric (>1/3 of sphincter), suprasphincteric and ekstrasphincteric fistulas 4) intersphincteric or low transsphincteric fistula in patients with fecal incontinence and/or fecal urge.
  • no or minimal luminal disease activity by colonoscopy < 3 months before treatment defined by Simple Endoscopic Severity for Crohn´s Disease<3
  • Prior optimal medical treatment for fistulas (immunmodulators, antibiotics and/or anti-TNF-alfa treatment) with out achieving fistula healing
  • Treatment with seton for a minimum of 6 weeks
  • Speaks and understand Danish
Read More
Exclusion Criteria
  • Pregnancy
  • Changes in immunmodulator or anti-TNFalfa treatment < 12 weeks
  • Anovaginal fistulas
  • Rectal or anal stenosis
  • Active proctitis
  • Stoma
  • Previous surgery for fistulas besides simpel drainage or seton
  • Smoker
  • Insulin-dependent diabetes, conditions inducing defective immunity, pelvic radiation
  • pelvic MRI contraindicated
Read More

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
PlacebosalinePatients will be treated with saline
Adipose tissue injectionAdipose tissue injectionPatients will be treated with freshly harvested autologous adipose tissue
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Complete clinical healing 6 months after treatment6 months after treatment

No visible external opening or palpabel internal opening, no symptoms in the form of secretion and pelvic MR with out sign of fluid tracts.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Clinical healing 3 months after treatment3 months after treatment

o visible external opening or palpabel internal opening, no symptoms in the form of secretion

Reduction in symptoms 3 months after treatment3 months

Change in Perianal Disease Activity Index (PDAI) 3 months after treatment

Partial healing 6 months after treatment6 months

Partial healing evaluated by pelvec MRI 6 months after treatment

Reduction in symptoms 6 months after treatment6 months

Change in Perianal Disease Activity Index (PDAI) 6 months after treatment

Changes in inconsistency 6 months after treatment6 months

Change in inconsistency score (St.Marks) 6 months after treatment

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Aarhus University Hospital

🇩🇰

Aarhus N, Denmark

© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved by MedPath