Vernal KeratoconjunctivitisPhase 2/3NCT00445120
Lactobacillus Rhamnosus GG Oral Treatment Efficacy on Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis Treatment
A Phase 2/3 study testing Lactobacillus Rhamnosus GG in people with Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis, run by Campus Bio-Medico University at 3 sites in Italy.
Trial summary
This interventional study aims to evaluate the efficacy of oral administration of Lactobacillus Rhamnosus GG in preventing relapses of ocular inflammation in Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) patients. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 5 to 16 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis
- What is being tested?
- Lactobacillus Rhamnosus GG
- Type of treatment
- Pill or oral medicine
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 48 participants
- Where
- 3 sitesItaly
- Study dates
- Mar 2007to Jan 2009
- Phase
- Phase 2/3
- 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 5 to 16 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Child
Who may be able to join
- Diagnosis of VKC performed on the basis of personal and family history of systemic allergic diseases, clinical examination (presence of conjunctival tarsal and/or limbal papillae) and presence of eosinophils in the conjunctival scraping.
Who cannot join
- Contact lens wearers,
- Patients affected by other ocular diseases,
- Patients subjected to ocular surgery in the preceding 6 months,
- Patients under eye drop or systemic treatments for other diseases,
- Patients enrolled in experimental trials in the preceding 6 months.
Trial locations and contacts
3 sites in 1 country.
Italy3 sites
University of Genova
Genova
University of Padua
Padua
University Campus Bio-Medico
Rome, 00155
About this study
Official title: Multicenter, Randomised, Double Masked, Controlled Studies on the Efficacy of Lactobacillus Rhamnosus GG Treatment in Preventing Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis VKC) Relapses.
This interventional study aims to evaluate the efficacy of oral administration of Lactobacillus Rhamnosus GG in preventing relapses of ocular inflammation in Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) patients.
Read the detailed description
Vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) is a chronic allergic disease, characterised by ocular surface inflammation lasting all year with seasonal relapses. Active phases of VKC are characterised by intense ocular symptoms and require treatment with topical steroids to control inflammation and corneal damage. To date, safe and effective therapies in preventing relapses of VKC are not available. Recently, the use of oral administration of probiotics for allergic diseases have been proposed. No data are available on the effects of probiotics on ocular allergies. This multicenter, double-masked, randomised, controlled clinical trial will allow to obtain more data on the efficacy of oral treatment with Lactobacillus Rhamnosus GG in patients affected by VKC. Patients with VKC will be treated with Lactobacillus Rhamnosus GG or placebo in addition to ketotifen fumarate 0.025% eye drops (standard treatment). The number of relapses per year, signs and symptoms of the disease, total symptom score (TSyS), total sign score (TSS), biochemical and molecular parameters will be evaluated at different time points.
- Conditions
- Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis
- Being tested
- Lactobacillus Rhamnosus GG, placebo (sugar)
- Keywords
- Vernal keratoconjunctivitis, probiotic, Lactobacillus Rhamnosus GG, Children, Clinical trial
- Medical subject headings
- Conjunctivitis, Allergic
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Lactobacillus Rhamnosus GGDrug
patients are treated with oral Lactobacillus Rhamnosus GG once daily for six months
placebo (sugar)Drug
Placebo will be administered to patients once daily for six months
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Experimental | Not described Receives: Drug: Lactobacillus Rhamnosus GG |
| 2 | Placebo comparator | Not described Receives: Drug: placebo (sugar) |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
To evaluate a difference in the number of relapses of ocular inflammation for year between Lactobacillus Rhamnosus GG and placebo treated groups. Relapses will be defined as at least 100% increase of the sum of hyperemia,
Measured: 2 years
Secondary outcomes (1)
Differences of specific symptoms and signs, TSyS, TSS, Quick questionnaire subscales,biochemical and molecular parameters will be evaluated at baseline, after 1, 3 and 6 months of treatment and after 1 month of treatment discontinuation
Measured: 2 years
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted8 Mar 2007 (estimated)
- Study startMar 2007
- Primary completionSep 2008
- Study completionJan 2009
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (7)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Vernal KeratoconjunctivitisStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
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 2/3
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- Quadruple blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 48 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Campus Bio-Medico University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- University of Genova, University of Padova
- Investigators
- Stefano Bonini, MD, Study director, University Campus Bio-Medico
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT00445120
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- LACTO2
- Other IDs
- Eudract number 2007-000209-31
- Status last verified
- Jan 2009
- First submitted
- 7 Mar 2007
- Last updated
- 29 Jan 2009
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
Publications
Kalliomaki M, Salminen S, Arvilommi H, Kero P, Koskinen P, Isolauri E. Probiotics in primary prevention of atopic disease: a randomised placebo-controlled trial. Lancet. 2001 Apr 7;357(9262):1076-9. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(00)04259-8.
PubMed 11297958Kalliomaki M, Salminen S, Poussa T, Arvilommi H, Isolauri E. Probiotics and prevention of atopic disease: 4-year follow-up of a randomised placebo-controlled trial. Lancet. 2003 May 31;361(9372):1869-71. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(03)13490-3.
PubMed 12788576Boyle RJ, Tang ML. The role of probiotics in the management of allergic disease. Clin Exp Allergy. 2006 May;36(5):568-76. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2222.2006.02472.x.
PubMed 16650040Peng GC, Hsu CH. The efficacy and safety of heat-killed Lactobacillus paracasei for treatment of perennial allergic rhinitis induced by house-dust mite. Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2005 Aug;16(5):433-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1399-3038.2005.00284.x.
PubMed 16101937Viljanen M, Savilahti E, Haahtela T, Juntunen-Backman K, Korpela R, Poussa T, Tuure T, Kuitunen M. Probiotics in the treatment of atopic eczema/dermatitis syndrome in infants: a double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Allergy. 2005 Apr;60(4):494-500. doi: 10.1111/j.1398-9995.2004.00514.x.
PubMed 15727582Bonini S, Bonini S, Lambiase A, Marchi S, Pasqualetti P, Zuccaro O, Rama P, Magrini L, Juhas T, Bucci MG. Vernal keratoconjunctivitis revisited: a case series of 195 patients with long-term followup. Ophthalmology. 2000 Jun;107(6):1157-63. doi: 10.1016/s0161-6420(00)00092-0.
PubMed 10857837Leonardi A. Vernal keratoconjunctivitis: pathogenesis and treatment. Prog Retin Eye Res. 2002 May;21(3):319-39. doi: 10.1016/s1350-9462(02)00006-x.
PubMed 12052387
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 29 Jan 2009. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Multicenter, Randomised, Double Masked, Controlled Studies on the Efficacy of Lactobacillus Rhamnosus GG Treatment in Preventing Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis VKC) Relapses.
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT00445120
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- LACTO2
- Conditions
- Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis
- Keywords
- Vernal keratoconjunctivitis, probiotic, Lactobacillus Rhamnosus GG, Children, Clinical trial
- Phase
- Phase 2/3
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 48 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Campus Bio-Medico UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- University of Genova, University of Padova
- Study start
- Mar 2007
- Primary completion
- Sep 2008 (actual)
- Study completion
- Jan 2009 (actual)
- First posted
- 8 Mar 2007 (estimated)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This interventional study aims to evaluate the efficacy of oral administration of Lactobacillus Rhamnosus GG in preventing relapses of ocular inflammation in Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) patients.
Detailed description
Vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) is a chronic allergic disease, characterised by ocular surface inflammation lasting all year with seasonal relapses. Active phases of VKC are characterised by intense ocular symptoms and require treatment with topical steroids to control inflammation and corneal damage. To date, safe and effective therapies in preventing relapses of VKC are not available. Recently, the use of oral administration of probiotics for allergic diseases have been proposed. No data are available on the effects of probiotics on ocular allergies. This multicenter, double-masked, randomised, controlled clinical trial will allow to obtain more data on the efficacy of oral treatment with Lactobacillus Rhamnosus GG in patients affected by VKC. Patients with VKC will be treated with Lactobacillus Rhamnosus GG or placebo in addition to ketotifen fumarate 0.025% eye drops (standard treatment). The number of relapses per year, signs and symptoms of the disease, total symptom score (TSyS), total sign score (TSS), biochemical and molecular parameters will be evaluated at different time points.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- Quadruple blind (participant, care provider, investigator, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Experimental | Drug: Lactobacillus Rhamnosus GG |
| 2 | Placebo comparator | Drug: placebo (sugar) |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 5 to 16 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Child
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Diagnosis of VKC performed on the basis of personal and family history of systemic allergic diseases, clinical examination (presence of conjunctival tarsal and/or limbal papillae) and presence of eosinophils in the conjunctival scraping.
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Contact lens wearers,
- Patients affected by other ocular diseases,
- Patients subjected to ocular surgery in the preceding 6 months,
- Patients under eye drop or systemic treatments for other diseases,
- Patients enrolled in experimental trials in the preceding 6 months.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Lactobacillus Rhamnosus GGpatients are treated with oral Lactobacillus Rhamnosus GG once daily for six months | Drug | 1 |
| placebo (sugar)Placebo will be administered to patients once daily for six months | Drug | 2 |
Primary outcome
To evaluate a difference in the number of relapses of ocular inflammation for year between Lactobacillus Rhamnosus GG and placebo treated groups. Relapses will be defined as at least 100% increase of the sum of hyperemia,
Time frame: 2 years
1 secondary outcome
Differences of specific symptoms and signs, TSyS, TSS, Quick questionnaire subscales,biochemical and molecular parameters will be evaluated at baseline, after 1, 3 and 6 months of treatment and after 1 month of treatment discontinuation
Time frame: 2 years
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 29 Jan 2009.
- Background: PubMed 11297958Kalliomaki M, Salminen S, Arvilommi H, Kero P, Koskinen P, Isolauri E. Probiotics in primary prevention of atopic disease: a randomised placebo-controlled trial. Lancet. 2001 Apr 7;357(9262):1076-9. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(00)04259-8.
- Background: PubMed 12788576Kalliomaki M, Salminen S, Poussa T, Arvilommi H, Isolauri E. Probiotics and prevention of atopic disease: 4-year follow-up of a randomised placebo-controlled trial. Lancet. 2003 May 31;361(9372):1869-71. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(03)13490-3.
- Background: PubMed 16650040Boyle RJ, Tang ML. The role of probiotics in the management of allergic disease. Clin Exp Allergy. 2006 May;36(5):568-76. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2222.2006.02472.x.
- Background: PubMed 16101937Peng GC, Hsu CH. The efficacy and safety of heat-killed Lactobacillus paracasei for treatment of perennial allergic rhinitis induced by house-dust mite. Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2005 Aug;16(5):433-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1399-3038.2005.00284.x.
- Background: PubMed 15727582Viljanen M, Savilahti E, Haahtela T, Juntunen-Backman K, Korpela R, Poussa T, Tuure T, Kuitunen M. Probiotics in the treatment of atopic eczema/dermatitis syndrome in infants: a double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Allergy. 2005 Apr;60(4):494-500. doi: 10.1111/j.1398-9995.2004.00514.x.
- Background: PubMed 10857837Bonini S, Bonini S, Lambiase A, Marchi S, Pasqualetti P, Zuccaro O, Rama P, Magrini L, Juhas T, Bucci MG. Vernal keratoconjunctivitis revisited: a case series of 195 patients with long-term followup. Ophthalmology. 2000 Jun;107(6):1157-63. doi: 10.1016/s0161-6420(00)00092-0.
- Background: PubMed 12052387Leonardi A. Vernal keratoconjunctivitis: pathogenesis and treatment. Prog Retin Eye Res. 2002 May;21(3):319-39. doi: 10.1016/s1350-9462(02)00006-x.
Related trials for Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis
RecruitingPhase 3
An Efficacy and Safety Study of Cenegermin Ophthalmic Solution Compared With Vehicle in the Treatment of PCED
Persistent Corneal Epithelial Defect
RecruitingPhase 3
3% Diquafosol Ophthalmic Solution for Active Moderate-to-Severe Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis
Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis
RecruitingPhase 2
A Study to Compare the Effectiveness and Safety of T1695 Versus Ciclosporin in Participants With Moderate to Severe Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis
Moderate to Severe Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis
Not yet recruiting
Tacrolimus Eye Drops in Treatment of Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis
Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis
Active, not recruitingObservational study
Evaluation of Central Corneal Thickness in Patients With Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis Using Topical Steroids
Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Stefano Bonini, MD study director
University Campus Bio-Medico
3 sites in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A Phase 2/3 study testing Lactobacillus Rhamnosus GG in people with Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis, run by Campus Bio-Medico University at 3 sites in Italy.
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 1 inclusion and 5 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: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 29 Jan 2009. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 3 sites in Italy. 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. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
What does this combined phase mean?
Phase 2 studies give the treatment to a larger group to see whether it has the intended effect and to keep checking safety.
Phase 3 studies compare the treatment with the current standard treatment or a placebo in a large group, to confirm how well it works and watch for side effects.
Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
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.
What does the primary outcome measure?
To evaluate a difference in the number of relapses of ocular inflammation for year between Lactobacillus Rhamnosus GG and placebo treated groups. Relapses will be defined as at least 100% increase of the sum of hyperemia, (time frame: 2 years). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT00445120, which also lists 7 linked publications.
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 29 Jan 2009; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 8 Nov 2026.