Freeze-dried vs Fresh Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in Patients With Slow Transit Constipation

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of this study is to compare the effect of freeze-dried, capsulized FMT and fresh FMT in adults with slow transit constipation.

Detailed Description
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Constipation is a chronic disease estimated to affect about 10% - 15% of the worldwide general population. Constipation frequency appears to augment with increasing age, particularly after 65 years old. Recent evidence in the literature and collected in the investigators' laboratory confirm that constipation can be a consequence of intestinal dysbiosis, with an increase of potentially pathogenic microorganisms and a decrease of potentially beneficial microorganisms. These alterations may affect the motility and metabolic environment of colon, especially the production of short chain fatty acids (SCFAs). A new and under-explored method to manipulate the gastrointestinal microbiota involves fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). There has been growing interest in the use of fecal microbiota for the treatment of patients with chronic gastrointestinal infections (e.g. CDI) and other extraintestinal conditions (e.g. IBD). Similarly, the investigators suppose that reshaping the gut microbiome with FMT would be effective for patients with slow transit constipation.

Official Title
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Freeze-dried vs Fresh Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in Patients With Slow Transit Constipation: a Randomized Controlled Study

Conditions
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Slow Transit Constipation

Intervention / Treatment
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* Procedure: Freeze-dried, Capsulized FMT
* Procedure: Fresh FMT


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Chronic constipation according to Rome III criteria, defined as two or fewer spontaneous, complete bowel movements (SCBMs) per week for a minimum of 6 months; Age ≥ 18 years; BMI: 18.5-25 kg/m2; Slow colonic transit confirmed by colonic transit test (colonic transit time (CTT) > 48 hours); Normal anorectal manometry, with no evidence of dyssynergia and confirmed ability to expel rectal balloon; No radiographic evidence of functional (i.e. pelvic floor dyssynergia) or anatomical (i.e. significant rectocele and intussusception) impediment to the expulsion of the radio-opaque contrast; Disease duration > 1 year; Traditional treatment with dietary modification, laxatives (including osmotic and stimulant laxatives), and biofeedback tried over the past 6 months without success; Exclusion Criteria: Bowel constipation due to innate factor (i.e. megacolon) or secondary interventions (i.e. drugs, endocrine, metabolic, neurologic or psychologic disorders); History or evidence of gastrointestinal diseases (i.e. obstruction, cancer, inflammatory bowel diseases) ; Previous abdominal surgery, except cholecystectomy, appendicectomy, tubal ligation and cesarean section; Previous proctological or perianal surgery; A constipation condition meeting the Rome III criteria for IBS or functional abdominal pain syndrome; Pregnant or breast-feeding women; Infection with enteric pathogen; Usage of probiotics, prebiotics and/or synbiotics within the last month; Usage of antibiotics and/or PPIs within the last 3 months; Smoking or alcohol addiction within the last 3 months; Uncontrolled hepatic, renal, cardiovascular, respiratory or psychiatric disease; Disease or therapy with drugs (i.e. antidepressants, opioid narcotic analgesics, anticholinergics, calcium antagonists, nitrates, antimuscarinics) that, in the opinion of the investigator, could affect intestinal transit and microbiota.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Freeze-dried, Capsulized FMT<br>Patients included will receive bowel lavage and subsequent Freeze-dried, Capsulized FMT, and then will be followed up for 3 months. | Procedure: Freeze-dried, Capsulized FMT<br> <br> |
| Experimental: Fresh FMT<br>Patients included will receive bowel lavage and subsequent Fresh FMT, and then will be followed up for 3 months. | Procedure: Fresh FMT<br> <br> |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Proportion of patients having on average three or more SCBMs/week | Proportion of patients having on average three or more spontaneous, complete bowel movements (SCBMs) per week was evaluated at week 4 and 12. | 3 months | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Mean number of bowel movements per week | Patients kept daily diaries about times of bowel movements each day. | 3 months | 
| Characteristics of bowel movements | Patients kept daily diaries about stool consistency and degree of straining severity during defecation. | 3 months | 
| Constipation-related symptoms assessments | Constipation-related symptoms were evaluated using the validated Patient Assessment of Constipation Symptoms (PAC-SYM) questionnaire at week 4 and 12. | 3 months | 
| Quality-of-Life assessments | Quality-of-Life was evaluated using the validated Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life (PAC-QOL) self-report questionnaire at week 4 and 12. | 3 months | 
| Colonic transit time measurements | Colonic transit time (CTT) was measured at week 4 and 12 with the Metcalf method. | 3 months | 
| Usage of laxatives or enemas as rescue medication | If patients did not have a bowel movement for 3 or more consecutive days, they were permitted to take up to 20 g of Macrogol 4000 powder (Forlax). If ineffective, enema was used. Patients kept daily diaries about the rescue medication when used. | 3 months | 
| Adverse events | Adverse events include fever, diarrhea, abdominal pain, increased bloating, borborygmi, flatulence, nausea, vomiting, nasopharyngitis, and any other disorders. | 3 months | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Slow Transit Constipation, Freeze-dried, Capsulized FMT, Fresh FMT