A Phase 1 interventional study of Fecal Microbial Transplant and Placebo in Cirrhosis and Alcohol Abuse, sponsored by Hunter Holmes Mcguire Veteran Affairs Medical Center. Completed at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 21 Years to 75 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2020-07-28.
Sponsored by Hunter Holmes Mcguire Veteran Affairs Medical Center · Phase 1, Interventional, and Treatment
There is an epidemic of alcohol use disorder in the US. Alcoholism is an epidemic that spans all ages and socio-economic strata, which has a major impact on healthcare expenditure. Alcohol-associated liver disease can take the form of mild fatty liver, chronic liver disease including cirrhosis and a very acute active form known as alcoholic hepatitis. However, most patients with alcohol abuse issues with cirrhosis do not develop alcoholic hepatitis and are not willing to quit drinking. These patients are neither liver transplant candidates due to their drinking nor have any recourse to therapies directed towards the liver as is the case with alcoholic hepatitis. This is very large proportion of cirrhotic patients who do not have many therapeutic options.
Prior studies have demonstrated that these patients have an altered gut-liver axis which is exacerbated by dysbiosis and a higher production of potentially toxic secondary bile acids. These secondary bile acids in turn have the potential to worsen the already impaired gut barrier in these patients, creating a vicious cycle of inflammation and further liver injury that is led by the altered microbial composition. A gut-based strategy that has the capability of "resetting" this dysbiosis could help in the amelioration of this inflammatory load and improve the prognosis of these patients.
Randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled safety, tolerability study with exploratory endpoints and pathophysiological evaluation of the FMT
Two groups of outpatients with cirrhosis will be randomized using random sequence generator into no-treatment and FMT groups.
Once patients are randomized 1:1 into group 1 (FMT) and group 2 (Placebo), both will be followed over 31 days and will include a 6 month visit to collect samples, perform questionnaires and to assess SAEs.
There is an epidemic of alcohol use disorder in the US. Alcoholism is an epidemic that spans all ages and socio-economic strata, which has a major impact on healthcare expenditure. Alcohol-associated liver disease can take the form of mild fatty liver, chronic liver disease including cirrhosis and a very acute active form known as alcoholic hepatitis. However, most patients with alcohol abuse issues with cirrhosis do not develop alcoholic hepatitis and are not willing to quit drinking. These patients are neither liver transplant candidates due to their drinking nor have any recourse to therapies directed towards the liver as is the case with alcoholic hepatitis. This is very large proportion of cirrhotic patients who do not have many therapeutic options.
Prior studies have demonstrated that these patients have an altered gut-liver axis which is exacerbated by dysbiosis and a higher production of potentially toxic secondary bile acids. These secondary bile acids in turn have the potential to worsen the already impaired gut barrier in these patients, creating a vicious cycle of inflammation and further liver injury that is led by the altered microbial composition. The investigators believe that a gut-based strategy that has the capability of "resetting" this dysbiosis can help in the amelioration of this inflammatory load and improve the prognosis of these patients.
A. Cirrhosis diagnosed by any of the following in a patient with chronic liver disease:
i. Continued sustained drinking pattern with AUDIT score ≥8 in the last month and fulfilling DSM-V criteria for alcohol misuse ii. Unable or unwilling to get mental health attention to quit alcohol (at least 3-months period of referrals to Substance abuse programs or other alcohol treatment approaches) iii. Adult companion who can accompany patient and provide insight into alcohol drinking patterns
Exclusion Criteria:
A. MELD score >17 B. Child Class C C. WBC count \<1000 cells/mm3 D. Platelet count\<50,000/mm3 E. TIPS in place for less than a month F. HE episode within a month prior to the study G. Currently on absorbable antibiotics H. Infection at the time of the FMT (diagnosed by blood culture positivity, urinalysis, paracentesis as needed) I. Patients who are aged >75 years J. Patients who are pregnant or nursing (will be checked using a urine pregnancy test) K. Patients who are incarcerated L. Patients who are incapable of giving their own informed consent
M. Patients who are immuno-compromised due to the following reasons:
N. Patients with a history of severe (anaphylactic) food allergy O. Patients who have previously undergone FMT P. Patients on renal replacement therapy Q. Patients who are unwilling or unable to hold the enemas R. Patients with untreated, in-situ colorectal cancer S. Patients with a history of chronic intrinsic GI diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease or microscopic colitis), eosinophilic gastroenteritis, celiac disease or irritable bowel syndrome T. Major gastro-intestinal or intra-abdominal surgery in the last three months U. Unable to comply with protocol requirements V. Patients who are American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Physical Status classification IV and V W. Patients with acute illness or fever on the day of planned FMT will be excluded with the option of including that subject at a future date X. Any conditions for which, in opinion of MD, the treatment may pose a health risk Y. Grade 2-4 or complicated hemorrhoids
Patients will get one-dose of 90ml of FMT enema on day 1 that has been received from OpenBiome using a rational donor
Biological: Fecal Microbial Transplant
Patients will get one-dose of 90ml of saline enema on day 1
Other: Placebo
Fecal transplant from a donor in the OpenBiome Registry
Placebo enemas
Proportion of participants with a related serious adverse event
Related SAE to FMT
Time frame: 15 days
Proportion of participants with newly acquired transmissible infectious diseases
Related transmissible infectious disease to FMT
Time frame: 15 days
Proportion of participants with a related adverse event
Related adverse event that does not meet the criteria for a serious adverse event
Time frame: 15 days
Proportion of participants with a related serious adverse event
Related SAE to FMT
Time frame: 30 days and 6 months
Proportion of participants with a related adverse event
Related adverse event that does not meet the criteria for a serious adverse event
Time frame: 30 days and 6 months
Proportion of participants with newly acquired transmissible infectious diseases
Related transmissible infectious disease to FMT
Time frame: 30 days and 6 months
Composition of microbial change
UNIFRAC and LEFSe pre vs post FMT on stool microbiota compared to baseline and to placebo
Time frame: day 15 post-intervention
AUDIT questionnaire
defining changes in alcohol abuse severity compared to baseline and to placebo
Time frame: day 15 post-intervention
Alcohol craving questionnaire
defining changes in the cravings for alcohol compared to baseline and to placebo
Time frame: day 15 post-intervention
Systemic inflammation changes
Inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF, IL-1b) compared to baseline and to placebo
Time frame: day 15 post-intervention
Cognition change using PHES
Psychometric hepatic encephalopathy score compared to baseline and to placebo
Time frame: day 15 post-intervention
Cognition change using EncephalApp stroop
EncephalApp stroop compared to baseline and to placebo
Time frame: day 15, 30 and 6 months post-intervention
Quality of Life using Sickness Impact Profile
Sickness Impact Profile compared to baseline and to placebo
Time frame: day 15 post-intervention
Plan to share: Undecided
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Hunter Holmes Mcguire Veteran Affairs Medical Center