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Effect of VSL#3 on Cognitive Function, Risk of Falls and Quality of Life in Patients With Cirrhosis

This study is currently recruiting participants.
Verified March 2013 by Fundació Institut de Recerca de l'Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau
Sponsor:
Information provided by (Responsible Party):
Fundació Institut de Recerca de l'Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
NCT01686698
First received: September 13, 2012
Last updated: March 18, 2013
Last verified: March 2013
History of Changes
  Purpose

Probiotics, due to their ability to modulate intestinal flora, intestinal permeability and immune response, could decrease bacterial translocation and improve immune system alterations in cirrhosis. This could lead not only to improvement in liver function and to prevent bacterial infections and other complications but also to improve CD and to avoid its consequences falls, HRQoL deterioration).

Recently, the investigators have observed that VSL#3 administration to rats with experimental cirrhosis decreases bacterial translocation, inflammatory response and ascites formation, without changes in intestinal flora. This suggests an improvement in intestinal barrier that deserves further investigation.

VSL#3, through decreasing intestinal bacterial translocation and immune system modulation, could improve cognitive function and prevent the consequences of CD, including falls and HRQoL deterioration, in patients with cirrhosis.


Condition Intervention Phase
Cirrhosis and Cognitive Dysfunction
 Drug: VSL#3
Drug: Placebo
 Phase 4

Study Type: Interventional
Study Design: Allocation: Randomized
Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Double Blind (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator)
Primary Purpose: Treatment
Official Title: Study of the Effect of VSL#3 on Cognitive Function, Risk of Falls and Quality of Life in Patients With Cirrhosis

Resource links provided by NLM:

MedlinePlus related topics: Cirrhosis
U.S. FDA Resources

Further study details as provided by Fundació Institut de Recerca de l'Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau:

Primary Outcome Measures:
  • To assess the effect of VSL#3 on cognitive function in patients with cirrhosis [ Time Frame: 3 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

Estimated Enrollment: 40
Study Start Date: March 2013
Estimated Primary Completion Date: June 2013 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)
Arms Assigned Interventions
Active Comparator: VSL#3
VSL#3 sachets containing 450 x 109 bacteria, 1 sachet every 12 hours during 3 months (n=20).
 Drug: VSL#3
VSL#3 is a probiotic mixture of 8 proprietary strains, namely Streptococcus thermophilus, bifidobacteria and lactobacilli.
Placebo Comparator: Placebo
Placebo sachets, 1 sachet every 12 hours during 3 months (n=20).
 Drug: Placebo

  Show Detailed Description

  Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:   18 Years and older
Genders Eligible for Study:   Both
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:   No
Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Outpatients with cirrhosis visited at Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau. Cirrhosis will be diagnosed by clinical, analytical and ultrasonographic findings or by liver biopsy.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Hospitalization in the previous month due to decompensation of cirrhosis. Hepatocellular carcinoma or any other malignancy.
  • Active alcohol intake (in the previous 3 months).
  • Current overt acute or chronic hepatic encephalopathy.
  • Clinically significant cognitive impairment according to Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire (SPMSQ) > 5 points.
  • Neurological disease.
  • Inability to perform psychometric tests.
  • Marked symptomatic comorbidities (cardiac, pulmonary, renal, untreated active depression).
  • Life expectancy less than 6 months.
  • Treatment with non-absorbable disaccharides.
  • Treatment with antiviral drugs.
  • Antibiotic treatment (norfloxacin).
  Contacts and Locations
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01686698

Locations
Spain
Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau Recruiting
Barcelona, Spain, 08025
Contact: German Soriano, MD         gsoriano@santpau.cat    
Principal Investigator: German Soriano, MD            
Sponsors and Collaborators
Fundació Institut de Recerca de l'Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau
  More Information

No publications provided

Responsible Party: Fundació Institut de Recerca de l'Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01686698     History of Changes
Other Study ID Numbers: IIBSP-VSL-2012-124
Study First Received: September 13, 2012
Last Updated: March 18, 2013
Health Authority: Spain: Comité Ético de Investigación Clínica

Keywords provided by Fundació Institut de Recerca de l'Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau:
cirrhosis, VSL#3, cognitive function, falls, quality of life

Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Liver Cirrhosis
Fibrosis
Cognition Disorders
Liver Diseases
 Digestive System Diseases
Pathologic Processes
Delirium, Dementia, Amnestic, Cognitive Disorders
Mental Disorders

ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on May 21, 2013