Prevention of infection in patients with cirrhosis with probiotic Lactobacillus casei Shirota

ISRCTN ISRCTN62619436
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN62619436
Secondary identifying numbers 02/0012
Submission date
26/03/2019
Registration date
08/04/2019
Last edited
12/06/2023
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Digestive System
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aims
Patients with cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver are prone to infection. Bacteria which are normally present and confined to the bowel in health can get into the bloodstream in patients with cirrhosis and cause serious and often life-threatening infection with devastating effects on liver function. This is thought to be due to an imbalance in helpful and harmful bacteria in the bowel and problems with the body’s immune defence system. Researchers have shown that probiotics, which are ‘bio-friendly’ food supplements, can alter gut flora and have a number of beneficial effects in cirrhosis. These include an improvement in markers of liver damage and restored function of important immune cells in patients with alcoholic liver disease. They have also been shown to improve outcome and reduce the risk of death in clinical conditions which have a similar basis to chronic liver disease. Probiotics could be very beneficial not only for in-patients who are acutely unwell, but also for out-patients to limit the likelihood of deterioration. This study is designed to assess the effects of a longer treatment with the probiotic Lactobacillus casei Shirota on infection rates, immune function, gut function and quality of life improvement in patients with any form of cirrhosis.

Who can participate?
Patients aged 18-78 with cirrhosis

What does the study involve?
Participants are randomly allocated into two groups. Group 1 receive Yakult yoghurt 3 bottles a day (65 ml each, containing Lactobacillus casei Shirota). Group 2 receive a similar looking and tasting placebo without bacteria. Participants are treated for 6 months. Blood samples are taken at the initial screening visit and at days 0, 14, months 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12. Routine tests are performed. Additional blood samples are collected at day 0, months 1, 6 and 12.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Previous studies suggest that patients with liver disease do benefit from probiotic therapy in aspects of liver and immune function. Longer treatment with probiotics could reduce significant infection, improve immune function and quality of life. This study is being undertaken if there is any benefit. Probiotic treatment is a food supplement which is associated with very few risks. We would however avoid using it in patients with inflammation of the pancreas. The main side effects of the supplement are a mild laxative effect and an increase in flatulence, the latter being regarded as a positive indicator of a high degree of fermentation, a sign that the supplements are working.

Where is the study run from?
University College London (UK)

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
August 2010 to February 2017

Who is funding the study?
Yakult

Who is the main contact?
Prof. Rajiv Jalan
r.jalan@ucl.ac.uk

Contact information

Prof Rajiv Jalan
Scientific

Institute for Liver and Digestive Health
Upper third floor
UCL Medical School
Royal Free Campus
Rowland Hill Street
London
NW3 2PF
United Kingdom

ORCiD logoORCID ID 0000-0002-7747-4015
Phone +44 (0)20743332795
Email r.jalan@ucl.ac.uk

Study information

Study designMulti-centre double-blind placebo-controlled randomised controlled study
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)Hospital
Study typeTreatment
Participant information sheet Not available in web format
Scientific titlePrevention of infection in cirrhosis with Lactobacillus casei Shirota: a randomised double-blinded placebo-controlled study
Study objectivesAdministration of Lactobacillus casei Shirota in patients with liver cirrhosis will improve innate immune function through alteration of the gut bacterial flora and gut barrier integrity.
Ethics approval(s)Approved by the Joint UCL/UCLH Committees on the Ethics of Human Research: Committee Alpha
Neil Hubbard, Research Portfolio Manager, Theme 4 (NIHR Divisions 6), Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, Royal Free Hospital, Research & Development Office, Lower Ground Floor, Room LG/306, Pond Street, London, NW3 2QG; Tel: +44 (0)20 7794 0500 ext: 36316; Email: n.hubbard@nhs.net), REC Ref: 02/0012
Ethics Committee at Basildon Hospital (James Hampton-Till, Director of Research, Basildon & Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Nether Mayne, Basildon, Essex, SS16 5NL; Tel: +44 (0)8451553111 ext 8988)
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedCirrhosis
Intervention92 patients will be randomised into two groups:
Group 1: Oral Yakult yoghurt 3 bottles a day (65 ml each, containing Lactobacillus casei Shirota at a concentration of 108/ml)
Group 2: Similar looking and tasting oral placebo without bacteria (3 bottles per day)

The recruited patients will be treated for 6 months. Blood will be taken at the initial screening visit and at days 0, 14, months 1, 3, 6, 9, 12. Routine biochemistry and haematology will be performed. Additional blood will be collected at day 0, months 1, 6 and 12. Effect of serum on the function of normal neutrophils will be determined cytokine concentrations, measures of bacterial translocation and intestinal permeability.
Urine collected will be used for further metabolic profiling.
Intervention typeSupplement
Primary outcome measure1. Neutrophil function assessed using phagoburst and phagotest at day 0, months 1, 6 and 12
2. Incidence of significant infection documented at time of clinical assessments at day 0, day 14, months 1, 3, 6, 9, 12
Secondary outcome measures1. Gut barrier function assessed using lactulose/rhamnose/xylose intestinal permeability assay at day 0, months 1, 6
2. Inflammatory, cellular and humoral response assessed using luminex at day 0, months 1,6,12
3. Quality of life assessed using SF-36 at days 0, 14, months 1, 3, 6, 9, 12
Overall study start date12/08/2010
Completion date02/02/2017

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupAdult
Lower age limit18 Years
Upper age limit78 Years
SexBoth
Target number of participants92
Total final enrolment92
Key inclusion criteria1. Patients aged between 18-78 years
2. Clinical and radiological evidence of cirrhosis, and/or biopsy proven liver cirrhosis of any cause
3. Informed consent
4. Abstinence from alcohol for > 2 weeks at the time of screening for inclusion
Key exclusion criteria1. Pugh score > 10
2. Clinical evidence of active infection
3. Antibiotic treatment within 7 days prior to enrolment
4. Gastrointestinal haemorrhage within previous 2 weeks
5. Use of immunomodulating agents within previous month (steroids etc)
6. Use of proton pump inhibitors for preceding two weeks
7. Concomitant use of supplements (pre-, pro-, or synbiotics) likely to influence the study
8. Renal failure (such as hepatorenal syndrome), creatinine >150 mmol/l
9. Hepatic encephalopathy II to IV
10. Pancreatitis
11. Other organ failure
12. Hepatic or extra-hepatic malignancy
13. Pregnancy
Date of first enrolment03/05/2011
Date of final enrolment03/04/2014

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • England
  • United Kingdom

Study participating centres

Royal Free Hospital
Pond Street
Hampstead
London
NW3 2QG
United Kingdom
Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Nethermayne
Basildon
SS16 5NL
United Kingdom

Sponsor information

University College London
University/education

1st Floor, Maple House
149 Tottenham Court Road
London
W1T 7DN
England
United Kingdom

Phone +44 (0)845 155 5000 ext 5199
Email david.wilson@ucl.ac.uk
ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/02jx3x895

Funders

Funder type

Industry

Yakult

No information available

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date31/12/2019
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareNo
IPD sharing plan summaryData sharing statement to be made available at a later date
Publication and dissemination planPlanned publication in peer-reviewed journal in 2019.
IPD sharing planThe data sharing plans for the current study are unknown and will be made available at a later date.

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Results article 02/06/2020 12/06/2023 Yes No

Editorial Notes

12/06/2023: The following changes were made to the trial record:
1. Publication reference added.
2. The total final enrolment was added.
05/04/2019: Trial's existence confirmed by ethics committee.