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Autism Spectrum DisorderPhase 1NCT04948814

Application of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in Children With ASD

A Phase 1 study testing Fecal microbiota transplantation and Vancomycin in people with Autism Spectrum Disorder, run by Tongji Hospital at 1 site in China.

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 The sponsor has not verified this record for over two years, so it may be out of date.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

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a group of serious neurodevelopmental disorders. Intestinal microbial disturbance is common in children with ASD, and about 40% of ASD children suffer from gastrointestinal dysfunction. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 3 to 18 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
Autism Spectrum Disorder
What is being tested?
Fecal microbiota transplantation and Vancomycin
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
40 participants
Where
1 siteChina
Study dates
1 Jun 2022to 1 Dec 2024
Phase
Phase 1
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 3 to 18 years
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Child, Adult

Who may be able to join

  • Children who meet Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) and ADOS-2 diagnostic criteria.
  • Age 3-18 years.
  • Children who match ASD children in age and gender, preferably from relatives.
  • No antibiotic treatment in the last 3 months.
  • Children who are healthy in growth and development, with normal results of child developmental and neuropsychological tests, including ASD-related screening, Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)-related screening and motor screening.
  • Children who have normal serological test results, including pre-transfusion testing, liver and kidney function, hepatitis B detection, quantification of hepatitis C, quantification of A virus immunoglobulin M (HAV-IgM), Epstein-Barr virus DNA (EBV-DNA) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), detection of microvirus B19, TORCH, tuberculosis infection T-cell test (T-SPOT), total total immunoglobulin E (IgE), food and inhalant allergen testing, and lymphocyte subpopulation analysis.
  • Children who have normal stool test results, including fecal routine and fecal occult blood, bacteria (Clostridium difficile A/B toxin, Escherichia coli O157, Shigella spp., Salmonella spp., Campylobacter spp., Staphylococcus aureus, Yersinia spp., Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Cholera isolates), fungi (Pseudomonas albicans, etc.), viruses (rotavirus, etc.), parasites (Giardia lamblia, Cryptosporidium, Cyclospora).
  • Children who have normal results for chest X-ray, abdominal ultrasound, C13 breath test, cranial MRI, etc.

Who cannot join

  • ASD children with severe gastrointestinal symptoms or organic disease requiring immediate surgery or treatment.
  • ASD children who have received antibiotics within 3 months, or are receiving immunosuppressive agents and biologics.
  • ASD children with underlying diseases, such as severe anemia, malnutrition, autoimmune diseases (autoimmune thyroiditis, type I diabetes, etc.), allergic diseases (asthma, severe eczema, etc.), central nervous system diseases, metabolic syndrome, etc.
  • ASD children with other organic dysfunctions, such as cerebral palsy, congenital genetic diseases, etc.; history of other psychiatric-behavioral disorders, genetic-metabolic diseases and other major physical diseases; other physical diseases, such as hearing impairment, vocal disorders, blindness, etc.
  • Children who have functional gastrointestinal symptoms suggested by the Rome IV diagnostic questionnaire for functional gastrointestinal disorders.
  • Children who have gastrointestinal disorders, including gastrointestinal symptoms (e.g., nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, etc.), chronic gastrointestinal disorders (chronic diarrhea, chronic abdominal pain, etc.), gastroesophageal reflux disease, peptic ulcer, a history of gastrointestinal surgery (intestinal obstruction, megacolon, pyloric stenosis, etc.)
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  • Children who suffer from other diseases, including familial autoimmune diseases such as type I diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis (Hashimoto's disease), toxic diffuse goiter (Graves' disease), etc.;
  • Children who have received drugs that has impact on the intestinal microbiota (such as proton pump inhibitors, pro-gastrointestinal drugs, steroids, aspirin, etc.) within six months.
  • Children who have received antibiotics within three months;
  • Children who are receiving immunosuppressants and biological agents.
  • Children who are undergoing chemotherapy for various tumors;
  • Children who have liver and kidney diseases, central nervous system diseases, acute and chronic infectious diseases (tuberculosis, measles, syphilis, HIV, etc.), severely anemic, malnourished, metabolic syndrome (obesity, diabetes, etc.),
  • Children who live in a place with prevalence of bacterial, viral, parasitic, etc.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

China1 site
  • Tongji Hospital

    Wuhan, Hubei, 430030

Other trials in China

About this study

Official title: Clinical Trial of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a group of serious neurodevelopmental disorders. Intestinal microbial disturbance is common in children with ASD, and about 40% of ASD children suffer from gastrointestinal dysfunction. A great deal of evidence shows that intestinal microbes can influence the brain to play its role through "brain-intestinal-microbiota axis". Fecal microbial biota transplantation (FMT) is the most direct way to change the intestinal flora rapidly. We intend to study the difference of intestinal flora structure and metabolism between ASD children and control children at the level of phylum, genus and species; To explore the role of fecal bacteria transplantation in improving core symptoms and gastrointestinal dysfunction of children in autism spectrum disorder; To study the potential etiological mechanism of autism spectrum disorder.

Read the detailed description

20 ASD children and 20 healthy children who are 3 to 18 years of age will be enrolled in the trial. The fecal donors who are 20 healthy children, will be extensively screened for infectious diseases prior to providing stool for the transplant. After being informed about the study and potential risks, all patients giving written informed consent will undergo screening period to determine eligibility for study entry. 20 ASD children who meet the eligibility requirements will receive a fecal microbiota transplantation following a 2-week treatment with Vancomycin. Fecal bacteria transplantation will be achieved through nasogastric tube, nasojejunal tube, esophagogastroduodenoscopy, colonoscopy or enema. The amount of fecal bacterial liquid transplantation for children is 5ml/kg each time. Microbiota analysis will also be performed on both the donor and recipient stool sample prior to transplantation, and on the recipient sample at 1 month, 3 month and 6 months post transplantation. We evaluate the difference of intestinal flora structure and metabolism between ASD children and control children at the level of phylum, genus and species, and explore the role of fecal bacteria transplantation in improving core symptoms and gastrointestinal dysfunction of children in autism spectrum disorder.

Being tested
Fecal microbiota transplantation, Vancomycin
Keywords
Autism Spectrum Disorder,Fecal microbiota transplantation
Medical subject headings
Autism Spectrum Disorder

What participants receive

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

  • Fecal microbiota transplantationBiological

    FMT utilizing stool from healthy children

  • VancomycinDrug

    40mg/kg/day

Study groups in NCT04948814
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
ASD childrenExperimental20 ASD children who meet the eligibility requirements will receive a fecal microbiota transplantation following a 2-week treatment with Vancomycin (40mg/kg/day) after 3 month waiting period. Fresh stool sample will be obtained from the donor. Fecal bacteria transplantation will be achieved via endoscopy, nasogastric/nasointestinal tubes, the proximal colon by colonoscopy, or the distal colon by enema, rectal tube, or sigmoidoscopy or a combined approach. The amount of fecal bacterial liquid transplantation for children is 5ml/kg each time. Fecal microbiota transplantation will be conducted at week 3-4, week 6-7, week 9, week 11 and week 13 for total 5 round.
Receives: Biological: Fecal microbiota transplantation; Drug: Vancomycin

What is being measured

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

  1. Change in Autism Diagnostic Observation Scale (ADOS) in ASD children

    The ADOS consists of a series of structured and semi-structured tasks that involve social interaction between the examiner and the person under assessment. The examiner observes and identifies segments of the subject's behavior and assigns these to predetermined observational categories. Categorized observations are subsequently combined to produce quantitative scores for analysis and diagnostic classification of ASD. Children at or above predetermined cutoff lines are considered to be positive for ASD. The assessment will be conducted before and after each intervention, namely baseline, 2 weeks, 5 weeks , 8 weeks , 10 weeks , 12 weeks and 14 weeks, and 1 month, 3 month, 6 months post transplantation.

    Measured: baseline, 2 weeks, 5 weeks , 8 weeks , 10 weeks , 12 weeks and 14 weeks, and 1 month, 3 month, 6 months post transplantation

  2. Changes in the Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC) in ASD children

    ABC is a scale used for nonadaptive behaviors created to screen and indicate the probability of a diagnosis of autism. The questionnaire including 57 items related to five areas: sensorial, relational, use of body and objects, and social skills. Scale score> 67 strongly suggests the presence of autism. The assessment will be conducted before and after each intervention, namely baseline, 2 weeks, 5 weeks , 8 weeks , 10 weeks , 12 weeks and 14 weeks, and 1 month, 3 month, 6 months post transplantation.

    Measured: baseline, 2 weeks, 5 weeks , 8 weeks , 10 weeks , 12 weeks and 14 weeks, and 1 month, 3 month, 6 months post transplantation

  3. Changes in the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) in ASD children

    CARS assesses the child on a scale from 1 to 4 in each of 15 dimensions or symptoms. A total score of at least 30 strongly suggests the presence of autism. Children with score between 30 and 36 have mild-to-moderate autism while those with score between 37 and 60 have severe autism. The assessment will be conducted before and after each intervention, namely baseline, 2 weeks, 5 weeks , 8 weeks , 10 weeks , 12 weeks and 14 weeks, and 1 month, 3 month, 6 months post transplantation.

    Measured: baseline, 2 weeks, 5 weeks , 8 weeks , 10 weeks , 12 weeks and 14 weeks, and 1 month, 3 month, 6 months post transplantation

  4. Change in Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) in ASD children

    The SRS is a 65-item rating scale with standardized measure of the core symptoms of autism. Each item is scored on a 4-point Likert scale. The score of each individual item is summed to create a total raw score. A total scores results are as follows:

    0-62: Within normal limits 63-79: Mild range of impairment 80-108: Moderate range of impairment 109-149: Severe range of impairment. The assessment will be conducted before and after each intervention, namely baseline, 2 weeks, 5 weeks , 8 weeks , 10 weeks , 12 weeks and 14 weeks, and 1 month, 3 month, 6 months post transplantation.

    Measured: baseline, 2 weeks, 5 weeks , 8 weeks , 10 weeks , 12 weeks and 14 weeks, and 1 month, 3 month, 6 months post transplantation

  5. Change in Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC) in ASD children

    ASD symptoms will be assessed using the Chinese version of the Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC), which comprise four subscales to measure child speech/language/communication, sociability, sensory/cognitive awareness, and health/physical/behavior. The scale has 77 items that are scored by parents. The health/physical/behavior subscale is rated using a 0 (not a problem)-to-3 (serious problem) point scale, whereas the other three subscales are rated using a 0 (not true)-to-2 (very true) point scale. Higher scores represent more ASD symptoms. The assessment will be conducted before and after each intervention, namely baseline, 2 weeks, 5 weeks , 8 weeks , 10 weeks , 12 weeks and 14 weeks, and 1 month, 3 month, 6 months post transplantation.

    Measured: baseline, 2 weeks, 5 weeks , 8 weeks , 10 weeks , 12 weeks and 14 weeks, and 1 month, 3 month, 6 months post transplantation

  6. Change in gastrointestinal symptoms among children with ASD

    Assessment will be conducted for the Rome IV diagnoses of cyclic vomiting, functional vomiting, functional dyspepsia, and/or functional constipation. The presence or absence of meeting criteria for the Rome IV diagnoses will be coded as a binary variable (true/false) to represent resolution of symptoms. The assessment will be conducted before and after each intervention, namely baseline, 2 weeks, 5 weeks , 8 weeks , 10 weeks , 12 weeks and 14 weeks, and 1 month, 3 month, 6 months post transplantation.

    Measured: baseline, 2 weeks, 5 weeks , 8 weeks , 10 weeks , 12 weeks and 14 weeks, and 1 month, 3 month, 6 months post transplantation

  7. Evaluate the difference of the gut microbe composition between children with ASD and healthy children by sequencing faecal metagenome.

    Fecal samples from ASD and healthy children were collected at baseline, 2 weeks, 5 weeks , 8 weeks , 10 weeks , 12 weeks and 14 weeks, and 1 month, 3 month, 6 months post transplantation.The composition of the gut microbe was evaluated by sequencing faecal metagenome. We evaluate the differences in the structure of the flora and its metabolism between the two at the phylum, genus and species levels of the intestinal flora and control children, and to develop a model for predicting the structure of the flora.

    Measured: 6 months post transplantation

Timeline

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

  1. First posted2 Jul 2021
  2. Study start1 Jun 2022
  3. Primary completion1 Jun 2024 (estimated)
  4. Study completion1 Dec 2024 (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 1
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
40 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT04948814
Sponsor's protocol ID
F616
Status last verified
Jan 2023
First submitted
21 Jun 2021
Last updated
20 Jan 2023
Results posted
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No

Publications

  • Fattorusso A, Di Genova L, Dell'Isola GB, Mencaroni E, Esposito S. Autism Spectrum Disorders and the Gut Microbiota. Nutrients. 2019 Feb 28;11(3):521. doi: 10.3390/nu11030521.

    PubMed 30823414
  • Israelyan N, Margolis KG. Serotonin as a link between the gut-brain-microbiome axis in autism spectrum disorders. Pharmacol Res. 2018 Jun;132:1-6. doi: 10.1016/j.phrs.2018.03.020. Epub 2018 Mar 31.

    PubMed 29614380
  • Fetissov SO, Averina OV, Danilenko VN. Neuropeptides in the microbiota-brain axis and feeding behavior in autism spectrum disorder. Nutrition. 2019 May;61:43-48. doi: 10.1016/j.nut.2018.10.030. Epub 2018 Oct 27.

    PubMed 30684851
  • Mussap M, Noto A, Fanos V. Metabolomics of autism spectrum disorders: early insights regarding mammalian-microbial cometabolites. Expert Rev Mol Diagn. 2016 Aug;16(8):869-81. doi: 10.1080/14737159.2016.1202765. Epub 2016 Jun 30.

    PubMed 27310602
  • Adams JB, Audhya T, McDonough-Means S, Rubin RA, Quig D, Geis E, Gehn E, Loresto M, Mitchell J, Atwood S, Barnhouse S, Lee W. Nutritional and metabolic status of children with autism vs. neurotypical children, and the association with autism severity. Nutr Metab (Lond). 2011 Jun 8;8(1):34. doi: 10.1186/1743-7075-8-34.

    PubMed 21651783

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 1 study testing Fecal microbiota transplantation and Vancomycin in people with Autism Spectrum Disorder, run by Tongji Hospital at 1 site in China.

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 13 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 20 Jan 2023. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in China. 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.

What does this phase mean?

Phase 1 studies test a treatment in a small group of people for the first time or in a new way, mainly to check safety and find the right dose.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

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.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Change in Autism Diagnostic Observation Scale (ADOS) in ASD children (time frame: baseline, 2 weeks, 5 weeks , 8 weeks , 10 weeks , 12 weeks and 14 weeks, and 1 month, 3 month, 6 months post transplantation). The study lists 7 primary outcomes in all. 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 NCT04948814, which also lists 5 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 20 Jan 2023.

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