AzTrials
AzTrials

Acute Alcoholic HepatitisNTAH-ModNCT01922895

Novel Therapies in Moderately Severe Acute Alcoholic Hepatitis

A study testing Lactobacillus Rhamnosus GG in people with Acute Alcoholic Hepatitis, run by University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at 3 sites in United States.

Terminated

Stopped early. The study ended before it was planned to and will not resume.

Official record
Search all trials

Trial summary

This study is being done to find out whether a diet supplemented with a probiotic nutrient can improve alcoholic hepatitis and gut complications compared to routine standard care. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 21 to 70 years
Conditions the study is for
Acute Alcoholic Hepatitis
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
45 participants
Where
3 sitesUnited States
Study dates
1 Aug 2013to 31 Aug 2021
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view

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 21 to 70 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Ability to provide informed consent by subject or appropriate family member
  • Age between 21-70 years
  • Recent alcohol consumption > 50 g/d for > 6 months, continuing within two months before enrollment
  • At least 2 of the following symptoms or signs of acute alcoholic hepatitis: Anorexia, nausea, RUQ pain, jaundice, leukocytosis, hepatomegaly AND
  • Elevation of AST > 80 U/L, but < 500 U/L at the time of admission or within 3 days of baseline visit; AST > ALT and ALT < 200 U/L; total bilirubin > 3 mg/dL AND
  • Liver biopsy showing alcoholic hepatitis (steatohepatitis) OR ultrasound of liver showing increased echogenicity OR CT scan showing decreased attenuation of liver compared to spleen OR MRI showing fatty liver (decreased signaling intensity on T1 weighted images). If the liver biopsy (done within 60 days of inclusion) confirms diagnosis of AAH then inclusion e will be waived.
  • Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) <20
  • Willingness to utilize two reliable forms of contraception (both males and females of childbearing potential) from screening through the first six weeks of study.

Who cannot join

  • Hypotension with BP < 80/50 after volume repletion
  • Pregnancy; incarceration; inability to provide consent or lack of appropriate family member
  • Signs of systemic infection: Fever > 38o C and positive blood or ascites cultures on appropriate antibiotic therapy for > 3 days within 3 days of inclusion
  • Acute gastrointestinal bleeding requiring > 2 units blood transfusion within the previous 4 days
  • Undue risk from immunosuppression: Positive HBsAg; a positive skin PPD skin test or history of treatment for tuberculosis; history of any malignancy including hepatocellular carcinoma; known HIV infection
  • Treatment with corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive medications including specific anti-TNF therapy (not including pentoxifylline), calcineurin inhibitors for > 3 days within the previous 3 months.
Show all 9Show fewer
  • Evidence of acute pancreatitis: CT evidence and/or amylase or lipase > 5 X upper limit of normal
  • Serious cardiac, respiratory or neurologic disease or evidence of autoimmune hepatitis, primary biliary cirrhosis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, Wilsons disease, hemochromatosis, secondary iron overload due to chronic hemolysis, alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency
  • Acute or chronic kidney injury with serum creatinine > 3.0 mg/dl

Trial locations and contacts

3 sites in 1 country.

United States3 sites
  • Cleveland Clinic

    Cleveland, Ohio, 44195

  • U Texas Southwestern Medical Center

    Dallas, Texas, 75390

  • University of Louisville

    Louisville, Kentucky, 40202

Other trials in United States

About this study

This study is being done to find out whether a diet supplemented with a probiotic nutrient can improve alcoholic hepatitis and gut complications compared to routine standard care.

Read the detailed description

Aim 1: Evaluate the effects of probiotic supplements on improvement in MELD score and gut mucosal integrity in patients with MELD < 21. Patients will be randomized to receive daily probiotics for 6 months and standard of care treatment or placebo with standard care.

Aim 2: Document the natural history of moderately severe alcoholic hepatitis. Patients who decline randomization will be offered the option of inclusion in the study prospectively for data collection purposes and research study procedures.

Aim 3: Create a data and tissue biorepository. This biorepository will serve as a national resource for studies related to acute alcoholic hepatitis.

Being tested
Lactobacillus Rhamnosus GG, Placebo for Probiotic
Keywords
Alcoholic Hepatitis, MELD < 20, Probiotic, Nutritional Supplement, Lactobacillus Rhamnosus GG
Medical subject headings
Hepatitis, Alcoholic

What participants receive

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

  • Lactobacillus Rhamnosus GGDietary supplement

    Also called Culturelle

    Probiotic nutritional supplement; Lactobacillus Rhamnosus GG

  • Placebo for ProbioticDrug

    Also called Dummy capsule

    Capsule manufactured without active ingredients.

Study groups in NCT01922895
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Placebo for ProbioticPlacebo comparatorPlacebo capsule that matches the probiotic capsule in appearance will be given once daily for 180 days.
Receives: Drug: Placebo for Probiotic
Lactobacillus Rhamnosus GGActive comparatorDietary supplement capsule (Lactobacillus Rhamnosus GG) will be given once daily for 180 days.
Receives: Dietary Supplement: Lactobacillus Rhamnosus GG

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. MELD Score

    Change in MELD scoring system for assessing the severity of chronic liver disease; MELD (Model of End Stage Liver Disease) scoring system for assessing the severity of chronic liver disease; calculated from serum bilirubin, serum creatinine, and the international normalized ratio for prothrombin time (INR) MELD = 3.8[Ln serum bilirubin (mg/dL)] + 11.2[Ln INR] + 9.6[Ln serum creatinine (mg/dL)] + 6.4. MELD score range from 6-40 with higher scores indicating more severe liver disease and a worse outcome.

    Measured: 30 days

Secondary outcomes (2)
  1. MELD Score

    Change in MELD scoring system over 180 day study duration. MELD (Model of End Stage Liver Disease) scoring system for assessing the severity of chronic liver disease; calculated from serum bilirubin, serum creatinine, and the international normalized ratio for prothrombin time (INR) MELD = 3.8[Ln serum bilirubin (mg/dL)] + 11.2[Ln INR] + 9.6[Ln serum creatinine (mg/dL)] + 6.4. MELD score range from 6-40 with higher scores indicating more severe liver disease and a worse outcome.

    Measured: 180 days

  2. MELD Score

    Change in MELD scoring system at 90 days study duration. MELD (Model of End Stage Liver Disease) scoring system for assessing the severity of chronic liver disease; calculated from serum bilirubin, serum creatinine, and the international normalized ratio for prothrombin time (INR) MELD = 3.8[Ln serum bilirubin (mg/dL)] + 11.2[Ln INR] + 9.6[Ln serum creatinine (mg/dL)] + 6.4. MELD score range from 6-40 with higher scores indicating more severe liver disease and a worse outcome.

    Measured: 90 days

Timeline

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

  1. First posted14 Aug 2013 (estimated)
  2. Study start1 Aug 2013
  3. Primary completion1 Jul 2018
  4. Study completion31 Aug 2021

Why it stopped: Lack of funding

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
Other
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Triple blind
Who is masked
Participant, Care provider, Investigator
Enrolment
45 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT01922895
Sponsor's protocol ID
STU 092012-012
Other IDs
U01AA021893-01
Acronym
NTAH-Mod
Status last verified
Feb 2022
First submitted
12 Aug 2013
Last updated
2 Mar 2022
Data monitoring committee
Yes
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Vatsalya V, Feng W, Kong M, Hu H, Szabo G, McCullough A, Dasarathy S, Nagy LE, Radaeva S, Barton B, Mitchell M, McClain CJ. The Beneficial Effects of Lactobacillus GG Therapy on Liver and Drinking Assessments in Patients with Moderate Alcohol-Associated Hepatitis. Am J Gastroenterol. 2023 Aug 1;118(8):1457-1460. doi: 10.14309/ajg.0000000000002283. Epub 2023 Apr 11.

    PubMed 37040544
  • Vatsalya V, Cave MC, Kong M, Gobejishvili L, Falkner KC, Craycroft J, Mitchell M, Szabo G, McCullough A, Dasarathy S, Radaeva S, Barton B, McClain CJ. Keratin 18 Is a Diagnostic and Prognostic Factor for Acute Alcoholic Hepatitis. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2020 Aug;18(9):2046-2054. doi: 10.1016/j.cgh.2019.11.050. Epub 2019 Dec 4.

    PubMed 31811953

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Lactobacillus Rhamnosus GG in people with Acute Alcoholic Hepatitis, run by University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at 3 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 8 inclusion and 9 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: stopped early, as of the sponsor's last update on 2 Mar 2022. 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 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. 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.

Are results available for this study?

Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 2 Mar 2022). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.

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?

MELD Score (time frame: 30 days). 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 NCT01922895, which also lists 2 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 2 Mar 2022.

Free account

Log in to keep searching

You’ve used your 3 free searches. AzTrials is free: log in or create a free account to keep searching clinical trials and save the ones you want to follow.

Create a free accountLog in