Clinical trial NCT01951209: Pilot Study Of The Effect Of Rifaximin On B-Cell Dysregulation In Cirrhosis
Official title: Prospective Pilot Study of the Effect of Rifaximin on B-Cell Dysregulation in Cirrhosis Due to Chronic Hepatitis C Infection
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: TERMINATED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Liver Cirrhosis
Chronic Hepatitis C
Keywords: Human
Hepatitis C
Cirrhosis
B-cell
Rifaximin
Lead sponsor: Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center
Sponsor class: FED
Collaborators: name: Bausch Health Americas, Inc.
First posted: 2013-09-26
Enrollment: 13
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 70
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: CROSSOVER
Primary purpose: BASIC_SCIENCE

Brief summary: Hepatitis C is the leading cause of chronic liver disease and cirrhosis in United States veterans. Cirrhosis is associated with impaired antibody responses and increased risk of bacterial infections. We have recently identified that cirrhosis is associated with abnormalities of memory B-cells, cells that make antibodies and help protect against bacterial infections. We have identified that chemicals associated with gut bacteria might play a role in causing these B-cell abnormalities. It is well known that gut bacteria have increased access to the blood in individuals with cirrhosis, a process called bacterial translocation. We hypothesize that reducing bacteria counts in the gut by using poorly-absorbed antibiotics (also known as selective gut decontamination) will partially reverse losses of memory B-cells in cirrhosis by reducing bacterial translocation.

Detailed description: We intend to enroll 18 patients with cirrhosis who do not have hepatic encephalopathy to prospectively evaluate the impact of rifaximin on B-cell phenotype and function. We plan to employ a randomized, double-masked, prospective crossover design to minimize bias. Subjects will be randomized to receive either rifaximin SSD 80mg or a matched placebo once daily for 12 weeks then crossed over to opposite therapy for 12 weeks. Serum and lymphocytes will be collected at baseline and every 4 weeks for in vitro assessment markers of gut microbial translocation and B-cell assays. Stool will be collected at baseline and every 12 weeks for future evaluation of changes of the gut microbiome.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Current or prior chronic Hepatitis C infection as documented by detectable HCV RNA in prior 5 years
* Child-Turcotte-Pugh stage A5-B8. Cirrhosis diagnosis may be based on either histological criteria (an previous liver biopsy showing F4/4 or F5-6/6 fibrosis) or clinical criteria (nodular liver on abdominal imaging, splenomegaly, thrombocytopenia, spider telangiectasias, palmar erythema, ascites, varices).
* Platelet count \< 175,000/ul
* Subject capable of giving informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

* Active alcohol use \> 20g/d
* Current or planned (within following 6 months) antiviral therapy for hepatitis C
* HIV co-infection
* Diagnosis of overt hepatic encephalopathy
* Current lactulose use
* Exposure to rifaximin, rifampin or rifabutin within 12 months
* History of C. difficile colitis
* History of adverse drug reaction or sensitivity to rifaximin, rifampin or rifabutin or any inactive components of rifaximin
* Pregnancy
* Anemia with hemoglobin \< 10g/dl or hematocrit \< 30%
* Chronic kidney disease with creatinine \> 2.1mg/dl
* Total bilirubin \> 3.0g/dl
* Active non-hepatic medical conditions such as congestive heart failure, chronic lung disease requiring oxygen, coronary artery disease with unstable angina
* Requirement for chronic immunosuppressive therapy such as corticosteroids, cyclophosphamide, azathioprine, TNF-alpha antagonists
* Chronic autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis
* Post-liver transplantation status or anticipated liver transplantation within 6 months.
* Systemic antimicrobial exposure within 30 days of planned Visit 1

Primary outcomes:
measure: Change in CD27+ B-cell frequency
timeFrame: Week 0 (Baseline) to Week 12
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Change in basal B-cell activation
timeFrame: Week 0 to Week 12
Other outcomes:
measure: Change in circulating markers of bacterial translocation
timeFrame: Week 0 to Week 12
Locations:
city: Philadelphia
country: United States
facility: Philadelphia VA Medical Center
state: Pennsylvania
Study officials:
affiliation: Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center
name: David E Kaplan, MD, MSc
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References:
citation: Doi H, Iyer TK, Carpenter E, Li H, Chang KM, Vonderheide RH, Kaplan DE. Dysfunctional B-cell activation in cirrhosis resulting from hepatitis C infection associated with disappearance of CD27-positive B-cell population. Hepatology. 2012 Mar;55(3):709-19. doi: 10.1002/hep.24689. Epub 2012 Jan 19.