Official Title

A Pilot Study of Vancomycin or Metronidazole in Patients With Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis
  • Phase

    Phase 1
  • Study Type

    Interventional
  • Study Participants

    35
The purpose of this study is to determine whether Vancomycin or Metronidazole is safe and beneficial in the treatment of Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis.
In this protocol, we propose the assessment of potential beneficial effects of the antibiotics vancomycin and metronidazole on liver biochemistries, liver related symptoms and Mayo risk score in patients with PSC. The patients will be randomized into four groups of ten patients: one group will receive low dose vancomycin, one group will receive high dose vancomycin, one group will receive low dose metronidazole and one group will receive high dose metronidazole. Each group will be treated for three months.
Study Started
Feb 28
2010
Primary Completion
Nov 30
2011
Study Completion
Nov 30
2011
Results Posted
Sep 19
2013
Estimate
Last Update
Sep 19
2013
Estimate

Drug Vancomycin

Comparison of different doses of drug

Drug Vancomycin

Comparison of different doses of drug

Drug Metronidazole

Comparison of different doses of drug

Drug Metronidazole

Comparison of different doses of drug

Drug Vancomycin

Comparison of different drug doses

Vancomycin 125 mg orally 4 times a day Experimental

The patients will be randomized into four groups of ten patients: one group will receive low dose vancomycin, one group will receive high dose vancomycin, one group will receive low dose metronidazole and one group will receive high dose metronidazole.

Vancomycin 250 mg orally 4 times a day Experimental

Metronidazole 250 mg orally 3 times a day Experimental

Metronidazole 500 mg orally 3 times a day Experimental

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

Diagnosis of PSC established by alkaline phosphatase >1.5 times and/or two fold elevation of liver transaminases (AST and/or ALT) for at least 6 months duration.
Cholangiography demonstrating intrahepatic and/or extrahepatic biliary obstruction, beading, or narrowing consistent with PSC.
Both genders.
Age ≥ 18 years old and < than 75 years old.
Patient's informed consent for study participation.

Exclusion Criteria:

Treatment with systematic antibiotics, azulfidine, ursodeoxycholic acid, corticosteroids, colchicine, methotrexate, azathioprine, cyclosporine, chlorambucil, budesonide, pentoxifylline, tacrolimus, silymarin or prednisone in the preceding three months.
Active drug or alcohol use.
Prior history of allergic reactions to the antibiotics which will be used in the study.
Any condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, would interfere with the patients' ability to complete the study safely or successfully.
Evidence of decompensated liver disease such as recurrent variceal bleeding, refractory ascites or spontaneous hepatic encephalopathy.
Anticipated need for transplantation in one year (Mayo survival model <80% one-year survival without transplant).
Findings highly suggestive of liver disease of other etiology such as chronic alcoholic liver disease, chronic hepatitis B or C infection, hemochromatosis, Wilson's disease, 1-antitrypsin deficiency, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, primary biliary cirrhosis or secondary sclerosing cholangitis.
Pregnancy or current lactation. Subjects becoming pregnant during the study will be withdrawn.

Summary

Low Dose Vancomycin

High Dose Vancomycin

Low Dose Metronidazole

High Dose Metronidazole

All Events

Event Type Organ System Event Term Low Dose Vancomycin High Dose Vancomycin Low Dose Metronidazole High Dose Metronidazole

Change From Baseline in Alkaline Phosphatase Following 12 Weeks of Treatment

Low Dose Vancomycin

-117.0
U/L (Median)
Full Range: -304.0 to 165.0

High Dose Vancomycin

-49.0
U/L (Median)
Full Range: -315.0 to 18.0

Low Dose Metronidazole

-62.0
U/L (Median)
Full Range: -502.0 to 212.0

High Dose Metronidazole

-36.0
U/L (Median)
Full Range: -450.0 to 42.0

Change From Baseline in Total Bilirubin Following 12 Weeks Treatment

Low Dose Vancomycin

-0.4
mg/dl (Median)
Full Range: -0.9 to 0.2

High Dose Vancomycin

0.05
mg/dl (Median)
Full Range: -0.8 to 9.7

Low Dose Metronidazole

-0.3
mg/dl (Median)
Full Range: -0.5 to 0.0

High Dose Metronidazole

0.05
mg/dl (Median)
Full Range: -0.5 to 0.4

Change From Baseline in Mayo PSC Risk Score Following 12 Weeks of Treatment

The Mayo PSC risk score was calculated for each patient at baseline and at 12 weeks, where Risk = 0.03 (age [years]) + 0.54 Ln (total bilirubin [mg/dL]) + 0.54 Ln (AST [IU/L]) + 1.24 (variceal bleeding) - 0.84 (albumin [g/dL]). There is no range, minimum, or maximum value but greater values indicate worse disease.

Low Dose Vancomycin

-0.65
units on a scale (Median)
Full Range: -1.13 to 0.21

High Dose Vancomycin

-0.01
units on a scale (Median)
Full Range: -0.71 to 1.15

Low Dose Metronidazole

-0.26
units on a scale (Median)
Full Range: -0.75 to 0.09

High Dose Metronidazole

-0.2
units on a scale (Median)
Full Range: -0.64 to 0.09

Change From Baseline in C-Reactive Protein Following 12 Weeks of Treatment

Low Dose Vancomycin

-2.2
mg/L (Median)
Full Range: -47.3 to 0.0

High Dose Vancomycin

1.0
mg/L (Median)
Full Range: -5.6 to 28.6

Low Dose Metronidazole

-3.6
mg/L (Median)
Full Range: -17.4 to 0.0

High Dose Metronidazole

Total

35
Participants

Age Continuous

40
years (Median)
Full Range: 20.0 to 70.0

Age, Categorical

Region of Enrollment

Sex: Female, Male

Overall Study

Low Dose Vancomycin

High Dose Vancomycin

Low Dose Metronidazole

High Dose Metronidazole