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AutismNCT00227487

Intestinal Inflammation and Carbohydrate Digestion in Autistic Children

A study testing Stool collection, Administration of carbohydrate solution during clinically indicated endoscopy and Questionnaires in people with Autism and Inflammation, run by Massachusetts General Hospital at 2 sites in United States.

Unknown status

Status not confirmed. The sponsor has not verified this record for over two years, so it may be out of date.

Official record
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Trial summary

The purpose of the study is to find correlations between non-invasive fecal tests of intestinal inflammation and macro- and microscopic evaluation of duodenal and colonic histology, disaccharidase activity, and intestinal permeability in children with autism. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 months to 17 years
Conditions the study is for
Autism, Inflammation
What is being tested?
Stool collection, Administration of carbohydrate solution during clinically indicated endoscopy and Questionnaires
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
115 participants
Where
2 sitesUnited States
Study dates
Oct 2005to Dec 2017
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 months to 17 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Child

Who may be able to join

  • Age 18 months to 17 years inclusive.
  • Subjects referred to a Massachusetts General Hospital for Children (MGH Main Campus or satellite clinic) for pediatric care or pediatric gastroenterology care.
  • Subjects with documented gastrointestinal symptoms requiring endoscopy and duodenal pinch biopsy for disaccharidase activity evaluation for the standard medical treatment of gastrointestinal symptoms (i.e. endoscopy and biopsy cannot be performed solely for research purposes).

Who cannot join

  • Use of any proteolytic digestive enzyme supplements: prescription or over-the-counter (e.g., Pancrease [Creon-10], Lactase, etc.) up to 7 days prior to EGD with biopsy.
  • Diagnosed bleeding disorder
  • Hypoalbuminemia
  • Unstable respiratory status evidenced by a diagnosed respiratory condition (such as asthma) that is not adequately controlled (e.g. evidence of repeated hospitalizations for exacerbations in asthma symptoms, etc.).
  • Unstable cardiac status evidenced by a diagnosed cardiac condition.
  • Nasal or menstrual bleeding. Additional blood in stool may effect calprotectin and lactoferrin concentration.

Trial locations and contacts

2 sites in 1 country.

United States2 sites
  • Massachusetts General Hospital

    Boston, Massachusetts, 02114

  • Newton Wellesley Hospital

    Newton, Massachusetts, 02462

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: The Evaluation of Intestinal Inflammation and Carbohydrate Digestion in Children With Autistic Spectrum Disorders

The purpose of the study is to find correlations between non-invasive fecal tests of intestinal inflammation and macro- and microscopic evaluation of duodenal and colonic histology, disaccharidase activity, and intestinal permeability in children with autism.

Read the detailed description

Gastrointestinal disorders in children with autism receive little attention. However, symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation, and flatulence have been considered contributing to the behavioral problems. These symptoms are associated partially with the deficiency of enzymes digesting carbohydrates and inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. The effect of intestinal inflammation on neurological disorders experienced by autistic children remains unclear. We will study this problem using recently developed non-invasive tests based on two proteins (calprotectin and lactoferrin) analysis in children's stool. Activity of enzymes needed for carbohydrate digestion will be tested in small samples of intestinal tissue. Intestinal permeability will be assessed by measuring urinary excretion of carbohydrate substances (lactulose and rhamnose) administered via the endoscope. This test will help to determine if intestinal inflammation contributes to a "leaky" gut syndrome. The study will provide valuable information for understanding the association between gastrointestinal disease and behavioral problems in autistic children.

Conditions
Autism, Inflammation
Being tested
Stool collection, Administration of carbohydrate solution during clinically indicated endoscopy, Questionnaires
Keywords
autism, intestine, disaccharidases, inflammation, permeability
Medical subject headings
Autistic Disorder, Inflammation

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Stool collectionOther

    Stool sample will be obtained by parent at home to prevent sample dilution during the cleanout

  • Administration of carbohydrate solution during clinically indicated endoscopyOther

    • A carbohydrate solution (lactulose + rhamnose dissolved in tap water) will be administered during the procedure (upper endoscopy) through a catheter directly into the duodenum to allow for intestinal permeability analysis.
    • Clinically indicated pinch biopsies will then be obtained.
    • The endoscopy procedures will take at least 1 - 1 ½ hours.
    • Children will then typically recover in the endoscopy suite for 2 - 2½ hours or less, if the child is medically cleared to leave the endoscopy suite sooner.
    • Urine for intestinal permeability analysis will be collected during 5 hours after carbohydrate solution administration. If the child has not voided, an additional 60 minutes will be allowed for the child to void. If the child is not continent for urine, a bag will be applied to catch the specimen.
  • QuestionnairesOther

    Parents/legal guardians of subjects will be asked to complete five (5) questionnaires: the Gastrointestinal Symptoms Inventory; a Developmental Screening for Autism - based on the child's age, either the Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (CHAT), Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT), or the Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ); the Behavior and Sensory Interest Questionnaire (BSI), the Behavior Problems Inventory (BPI), and the Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC). It should take parents/guardians no longer than eighty-five (85) minutes to complete all 5 surveys. Results from these questionnaires will be correlated with documented gastrointestinal and/or neurological diagnostic information from subject medical records and with research study test results.

Study groups in NCT00227487
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Stool collection, Carbohydrate administration, QuestionnairesOtherA stool sample will be obtained A carbohydrate solution (lactulose plus rhamnose dissolved in tap water) will be administered during a clinically indicated endoscopic procedure. Five questionnaires will be completed by parent/guardian
Receives: Other: Stool collection; Other: Administration of carbohydrate solution during clinically indicated endoscopy; Other: Questionnaires

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted28 Sep 2005 (estimated)
  2. Study startOct 2005
  3. Primary completionMay 2011
  4. Study completionDec 2017 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Diagnosis
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
115 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT00227487
Sponsor's protocol ID
KRPP1
Status last verified
Sep 2016
First submitted
26 Sep 2005
Last updated
30 Sep 2016
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No

Publications

  • Kushak RI, Buie TM, Murray KF, Newburg DS, Chen C, Nestoridi E, Winter HS. Evaluation of Intestinal Function in Children With Autism and Gastrointestinal Symptoms. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2016 May;62(5):687-91. doi: 10.1097/MPG.0000000000001174.

    PubMed 26913756

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Stool collection, Administration of carbohydrate solution during clinically indicated endoscopy and Questionnaires in people with Autism and Inflammation, run by Massachusetts General Hospital at 2 sites in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 6 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: status not confirmed, as of the sponsor's last update on 30 Sep 2016. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 2 sites in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

Results are not available in the source record.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT00227487, which also lists 1 linked publication.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 30 Sep 2016.

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