A Study to Evaluate the Effect of Fecal Transplant and Dietary Changes on Disease Activity in Patients With Newly Diagnosed Active Crohn Disease

NCT ID: NCT06890650

Last Updated: 2025-04-04

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

168 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2025-03-15

Study Completion Date

2028-03-15

Brief Summary

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Dysbiosis can be rectified by several methods: antibiotics, prebiotics, probiotics, dietary modulation, and fecal microbiota transplantation. There has been limited success with the isolated use of antibiotics and pre/probiotics in the treatment of IBD. Among the measures of dietary manipulation, the use of exclusive enteral nutrition (EEN) has shown superior, or at least equivalent, efficacy compared with steroids in pediatric CD. Although the results in adults are not as encouraging, recent cohort studies in patients with complicated CD have shown good success rates. Definite exclusion diets that exclude pro-inflammatory dietary constituents have also been tested with good clinical efficacy in patients with CD, who even failed treatment with anti-TNF agents. Various dietary approaches, inclusive of exclusive enteral nutrition, partial enteral nutrition, and Crohn's disease exclusion diet have been reported to be of benefit and are associated with changes in gut microbiome. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) defined as the infusion of fecal suspension from a healthy individual into the gastrointestinal tract of an individual with GI disease carries a diverse population of microbiota and their metabolites and has been tested with varying efficacy in IBD. In general, FMT has shown good success rates in randomized control trials in patients with UC who failed conventional agents. Although limited small RCTs exist in CD, cohort studies have also shown good success rates. Therefore, the use of FMT in addition to standard medical therapy, is a concept that has not been previously explored and forms the basis for the present study. Therefore, a well-powered RCT is required to resolve the role of FMT in CD. In this study, patients will be recruited in four arms. Group A includes FMT+CDED+SMT, in Group B FMT+SMT+SHAM DIET, in Group C Sham FMT+CDED+SMT, in Group D Sham FMT+ Sham Diet+ SMT given. 168 patients will be recruited across 6 centers for around 3 years. Follow-up of the patient will be done at 0,2,6 and 10 weeks and 8 weekly up to 48 weeks.

Detailed Description

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This study is a multi-center, double-blind, factorial randomized controlled trial designed to evaluate the efficacy of microbiome manipulation strategies using fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), Crohn's Disease Exclusion Diet (CDED), or their combination in treatment-naïve patients with mild to moderate active Crohn's Disease (CD).

Study Setting

The trial is conducted at six FMT centers across India, with one additional center dedicated to microbiome analysis:

AIIMS, New Delhi, India Dayanand Medical College, Ludhiana, India PGIMER, Chandigarh, India Lisie Hospital, Kochi, India IMS, BHU, Varanasi, India Sion Hospital, Mumbai, India IIIT-Delhi, India(for microbiome analysis)

Intervention Details:

Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT)- Patients receive a 3-day course of oral vancomycin (500 mg BD) before the first FMT.

Freshly prepared 50 g stool is used for each FMT, and the transplant is administered within 4 hours of preparation.

FMT is delivered via colonoscopy at weeks 0, 2, and 6, followed by 8-weekly maintenance sessions for responders at weeks 10, 18, 26, 34, 42.

Multiple donors (n≥2) are used to ensure microbiome diversity. The first FMT session is instilled in the right colon/terminal ileum post bowel preparation, whereas maintenance sessions involve left-colon infusion without bowel preparation.

Crohn's Disease Exclusion Diet (CDED)- Patients assigned to CDED follow a phased dietary protocol designed to limit exposure to pro-inflammatory dietary components and enhance gut microbiome stability.

CDED consists of an induction and maintenance phase, with structured dietary charts and counseling provided by a dietitian.

Compliance is monitored via telephonic interviews and a dedicated diet tracking app (IBD NutriCare).

Sham Interventions- Sham FMT: Patients receive sterile water or saline infusions via colonoscopy at the same time points as FMT.

Sham Diet: Patients receive general dietary advice but do not follow the CDED protocol.

Randomization and Blinding- Central randomization is conducted using a secure web-based system (REDCap), utilizing stratified randomization based on disease extent.

The study follows a double-blind approach:

Blinded: Patients, clinical assessors, and endoscopic scorers. Unblinded: Endoscopists administering FMT/sham FMT and dietitians providing dietary counseling.

Oral vancomycin and placebo capsules are identically packed to maintain blinding.

Data Collection and Assessments- Baseline Assessments (Week 0) Clinical Assessment: Crohn's Disease Activity Index (CDAI), symptom scoring, and dietary adherence evaluation.

Laboratory Tests: Hemogram, renal/liver function, CRP, ESR, fecal calprotectin, and microbiome profiling.

Endoscopy: SES-CD scoring with high-definition endoscopic video recording. Histology: Biopsy samples are analyzed using Distribution Chronicity and Activity (DCA) scoring.

Follow-up Assessments- Clinical assessments at weeks 0, 2, 4, 6, 10, and every 8 weeks thereafter. Endoscopic assessments at baseline, week 10, and week 48, with central reading of all videos.

Fecal microbiome analysis at baseline, week 10, and week 48. Safety and Monitoring- Adverse Events (AEs) graded per CTCAE criteria (Grades 1-5). Serious Adverse Events (SAEs) include hospitalization, life-threatening conditions, or death.

DSMB reviews interim safety data at week 10 and 24. Emergency unblinding is permitted for critical medical decisions. Data Management- Data is collected using REDCap, with role-based access controls. Endoscopic images and videos are securely stored for centralized analysis. Microbiome sequencing data is processed at IIIT-Delhi. Statistical Considerations- Sample size calculation: 168 patients (42 per arm, 90% power).

Analysis Plan:

Intention-to-treat (ITT) and per-protocol (PP) analyses. Longitudinal mixed-effects modeling for microbiome shift

Conditions

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Crohn Disease

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

FACTORIAL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

DOUBLE

Participants Investigators

Study Groups

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Fecal Microbiota Transplantation(FMT) with Crohns disease exclusion diet(CDED)

1\. Oral vancomycin 500 mg BD for 3 days before first FMT 2. FMT via colonoscopy at 0, 2 and 6 weeks followed by (if treatment responder) 8 weekly during maintenance between 10 to 48 weeks

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Fecal Microbial Transplantation

Intervention Type OTHER

This will involve colonoscopic instillation of fecal transplant

Crohns disease exclusion diet

Intervention Type OTHER

The modified diet plan will be given to each study participant

Fecal microbiota transplantation(FMT) and sham diet

1\. Oral vancomycin 500 mg BD for 3 days before first FMT 2. FMT via colonoscopy at 0, 2 and 6 weeks followed by (if treatment responder) 10 weeks and then 8 weekly during maintenance between 10 to 42 weeks 3. Diet counselling for 48 weeks

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Fecal Microbial Transplantation

Intervention Type OTHER

This will involve colonoscopic instillation of fecal transplant

Sham diet

Intervention Type OTHER

Dietary counselling alone

Crohns Disease Exclusion Diet(CDED) and sham transplantation

1\. Oral placebo 1 BD for 3 days before first FMT 2. Sham transplantation (clean water) via colonoscopy at 0, 2 and 6 weeks followed by (if treatment responder) 8 weekly during maintenance between 10 to 48 weeks 3.Crohns Disease Exclusion Diet for 48 weeks

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Sham transplantation

Intervention Type OTHER

Sham FMT will involve saline infusion via colonoscopy

Crohns disease exclusion diet

Intervention Type OTHER

The modified diet plan will be given to each study participant

Sham transplantation with Sham diet

1.Oral placebo 1 BD for 3 days before first sham transplantation 2. Sham colonoscopy with instillation of saline at 0, 2, and 6 weeks followed by (if treatment responder) - 8-weekly during maintenance between 10 to 48 weeks

Group Type SHAM_COMPARATOR

Sham transplantation

Intervention Type OTHER

Sham FMT will involve saline infusion via colonoscopy

Sham diet

Intervention Type OTHER

Dietary counselling alone

Interventions

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Fecal Microbial Transplantation

This will involve colonoscopic instillation of fecal transplant

Intervention Type OTHER

Sham transplantation

Sham FMT will involve saline infusion via colonoscopy

Intervention Type OTHER

Crohns disease exclusion diet

The modified diet plan will be given to each study participant

Intervention Type OTHER

Sham diet

Dietary counselling alone

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

1. Patients with treatment-naive Crohns disease accessible with ileocolonoscopy
2. Symptom onset of less than 12 months
3. Mild to moderate disease activity with endoscopically active disease

1. CDAI of greater than 150 and less than 450
2. SES-CD of or equal to or greater than 6 (or equal to or greater than 4 if isolated ileal disease)
4. Aged between 18-75 years

Exclusion Criteria

1. Patients with severe disease (CDAI greater than 450, SES-CD greater than 16) or requiring hospitalization
2. Patients who have been received on corticosteroids, immunosuppressants (azathioprine/ 6- mercaptoprine/methotrexate) for greater than 2 weeks
3. Biologicals or small molecule exposure
4. Stricturing (non-passable stricture), fistulising phenotype or perianal fistula/abscess
5. L4 disease
6. Pregnant or lactating women
7. Previous surgery for CD
8. Declining consent
9. Not willing for FMT/Dietary advise
10. Patients with current or recent history of clinically severe, progressive, or uncontrolled renal, hepatic, hematological, gastrointestinal, metabolic, endocrine, pulmonary, cardiac, or neurological disease.
11. Positive assay or stool culture for pathogens (ova and parasite examination, bacteria) or positive test for Clostridioides difficile toxin at screening#
12. Patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) # The patients with positive assay will be treated appropriately and tests will be repeated. Those with negative assay and persistent activity will be included in the study.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

75 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Dayanand Medical College and Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Institute of Medical Sciences of the Banaras Hindu University, India

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Lokmanya Tilak Municipal Medical College and Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Lisie Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology Delhi

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Indian Council of Medical Research

OTHER_GOV

Sponsor Role collaborator

All India Institute of Medical Sciences

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Prof. Vineet Ahuja

Professor

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Prof Vineet Ahuja, DM Gastroenterology

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Department of Gastroenterology, AIIMS, New Delhi

Locations

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Department of Gastroenterology, Lisie Hospital

Kochi, Kerala, India

Site Status NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General Hospital and Lokmanya Tilak Municipal Medical College, Sion

Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Site Status NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Department of Gastroenterology and Human Nutrition, All India Institute of Medical Sciences

New Delhi, National Capital Territory of Delhi, India

Site Status RECRUITING

Department of Gastroenterology, Dayanand Medical College

Ludhiana, Punjab, India

Site Status NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Department of Gastroentrology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research

Chandigarh, Punjab/Haryana, India

Site Status NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Department of Gastroenterology, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University

Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India

Site Status NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Countries

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India

Central Contacts

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Prof Vineet Ahuja, DM Gastroenterology

Role: CONTACT

+91-9810707170

Dr Himanshu Narang, DM Gasteroentrology

Role: CONTACT

+91-8800316504

Facility Contacts

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Dr Mathew Philip, DM Gasteroentrology

Role: primary

+91-9846045469

Dr Kiran Josy, DM Gastroentrology

Role: backup

+91-9745243939

Dr Sanjay Chandnani, DM Gasteroentrology

Role: primary

+91-9049708800

Prof Vineet Ahuja, DM Gasteroentrology

Role: primary

+91-9810707170

Dr Himanshu Narang, DM Gastroentrology

Role: backup

+91-8800316504

Prof Ajit Sood, DM Gasteroentrology

Role: primary

+91-9815400718

Dr Arshdeep Singh, DM Gastroentrology

Role: backup

+91-9815337764

Dr Vishal Sharma, DM Gasteroentrology

Role: primary

+91-8872813399

Dr Devesh Prakash Yadav, DM Gasteroentrology

Role: primary

+91-8130856563

Other Identifiers

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EMDR/CARE/12/2023-0000572

Identifier Type: OTHER_GRANT

Identifier Source: secondary_id

AIIMSA2989/03.01.2025

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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