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Larazotide acetate in patients with coeliac disease undergoing a gluten challenge: a randomised placebo-controlled study.
Kelly, CP, Green, PH, Murray, JA, Dimarino, A, Colatrella, A, Leffler, DA, Alexander, T, Arsenescu, R, Leon, F, Jiang, JG, et al
Alimentary pharmacology & therapeutics. 2013;37(2):252-62
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Plain language summary
Coeliac disease (CD) is an autoimmune disorder triggered by ingestion of gluten in genetically susceptible individuals. CD can cause inflammation and histological changes including villous atrophy and increased intestinal permeability. Larazotide acetate is a peptide that has been shown to block the gluten-induced increase in intestinal permeability, therefore improving gastrointestinal symptoms in CD patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of larazotide acetate during a gluten challenge in patients with CD. The study included 184 adults diagnosed with CD, adhering to a gluten-free diet for at least six months. For six weeks, participants received 2.7 grams of gluten daily and were randomised to receive larazotide acetate three times daily. The findings of this study showed that larazotide acetate reduced gluten-induced immune activation, alleviated gastrointestinal symptoms and was well tolerated. While there was a reduction in the biomarker for intestinal permeability, there was no significant difference found compared with placebo. The authors conclude that the design and results of this study can be used for future pharmacological studies for CD.
Abstract
BACKGROUND Coeliac disease, an autoimmune disorder triggered by gluten ingestion, is managed by a gluten-free diet (GFD), which is difficult for many patients. Larazotide acetate is a first-in-class oral peptide that prevents tight junction opening, and may reduce gluten uptake and associated sequelae. AIM: To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of larazotide acetate during gluten challenge. METHODS This exploratory, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled study included 184 patients maintaining a GFD before and during the study. After a GFD run-in, patients were randomised to larazotide acetate (1, 4, or 8 mg three times daily) or placebo and received 2.7 grams of gluten daily for 6 weeks. Outcomes included an experimental biomarker of intestinal permeability, the lactulose-to-mannitol (LAMA) ratio and clinical symptoms assessed by Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS) and anti-transglutaminase antibody levels. RESULTS No significant differences in LAMA ratios were observed between larazotide acetate and placebo groups. Larazotide acetate 1-mg limited gluten-induced symptoms measured by GSRS (P = 0.002 vs. placebo). Mean ratio of anti-tissue transglutaminase IgA levels over baseline was 19.0 in the placebo group compared with 5.78 (P = 0.010), 3.88 (P = 0.005) and 7.72 (P = 0.025) in the larazotide acetate 1-, 4-, and 8-mg groups, respectively. Adverse event rates were similar between larazotide acetate and placebo groups. CONCLUSIONS Larazotide acetate reduced gluten-induced immune reactivity and symptoms in patients with coeliac disease undergoing gluten challenge and was generally well tolerated; however, no significant difference in LAMA ratios between larazotide acetate and placebo was observed. Results and design of this exploratory study can inform the design of future studies of pharmacological interventions in patients with coeliac disease.
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Search for atoxic cereals: a single blind, cross-over study on the safety of a single dose of Triticum monococcum, in patients with celiac disease.
Zanini, B, Petroboni, B, Not, T, Di Toro, N, Villanacci, V, Lanzarotto, F, Pogna, N, Ricci, C, Lanzini, A
BMC gastroenterology. 2013;13:92
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The only current treatment for coeliac disease (CD) is lifelong adherence to a gluten free diet (GFD). As many CD patients report this to be difficult, alternatives for a baking-quality wheat that does not contain gluten are sought. Triticum monococcum (TM) is an ancient wheat that has shown potential to be a non-toxic gluten alternative for patients with CD. The aim of this study was to assess the safety of TM administration in patients with CD. 12 CD patients who have followed a gluten free diet for at least one year and were challenged with rice, gluten or TM, and followed for four weeks. The findings of this study showed that the safety of TM administration is inconclusive, though well tolerated by all patients. The authors encourage further investigation on this cereal as a harmless gluten alternative for CD patients.
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cereals of baking quality with absent or reduced toxicity are actively sought as alternative therapy to a gluten-free diet (GFD) for patients with coeliac disease (CD). Triticum monococcum, an ancient wheat, is a potential candidate having no toxicity in in-vitro and ex-vivo studies. The aim of our study was to investigate on the safety of administration of a single dose of gluten of Tm in patients with CD on GFD. METHODS We performed a single blind, cross-over study involving 12 CD patients who had been on a GFD for at least 12 months, challenged on day 0, 14 and 28 with a single fixed dose of 2.5 grams of the following (random order): Tm, rice (as reference atoxic protein) and Amygluten (as reference toxic protein) dispersed in a gluten-free pudding. The primary end-point of the study was the change in intestinal permeability, as assessed by changes in the urinary lactulose/rhamnose ratio (L/R ratio) measured by High Pressure Liquid Chromatography. We also assessed the occurrence of adverse gastrointestinal events, graded for intensity and duration according to the WHO scale. Variables were expressed as mean ± SD; paired t-test and χ² test were used as appropriate. RESULTS The urinary L/R ratio did not change significantly upon challenge with the 3 cereals, and was 0.055 ± 0.026 for Tm Vs 0.058 ± 0.035 for rice (p = 0.6736) and Vs 0.063 ± 0.054 with Amygluten (p = 0.6071). Adverse gastrointestinal events were 8 for Tm, Vs 11 for rice (p = 0.6321) and Vs 31 for Amygluten p = 0.0016), and, in all cases events were graded as "mild" or "moderate" with TM and rice, and as "severe" or "disabling" in 4 cases during Amygluten. CONCLUSIONS No definite conclusion can be drawn on the safety of Tm, based on no change in urinary L/R because even Amygluten, a toxic wheat protein, did not cause a significant change in urinary L/R indicating low sensitivity of this methodology in studies on acute toxicity. Tm was, however, well tolerated by all patients providing the rationale for further investigation on the safety of this cereal for CD patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION EudraCT-AIFA n2008-000697-20.
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[Nursing and organizational development].
Donnenberg, OH, Locher, K
Tijdschrift voor ziekenverpleging. 1986;39(1):18-22
Plain language summary
The relationship between gluten exposure and diarrhoea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) is not well understood. Non-celiac IBS-D patients who are positive for HLA-DQ2/8 genes associated with CD can show symptom improvement on a gluten-free diet (GFD). The aim of this 4-week parallel randomized controlled clinical trial in HLA-DQ2/8 positive and negative patients with IBS-D was to assess the effects of a gluten-containing diet (GCD) compared to a GFD on bowel function, gut transit, small bowel and colonic barrier functions. 45 patients were recruited from the Mayo clinic’s database of IBS suffers, and invited to participate. Patients with diagnosed CD were excluded. 22 patients were placed on the GCD (11 HLA-DQ2/8–negative and 11 HLA-DQ2/8–positive) and 23 on the GFD (12 HLA-DQ2/8−negative and 11 HLA-DQ2/8–positive). All meals and snacks were ingested or prepared in the Mayo Clinic. Patients were advised to eat only the foods provided by the study dieticians. Gluten-free and gluten-containing meals were prepared using the same macronutrient content (20% protein, 30% fat, 50% carb). Compliance to the diet was assessed by direct questioning by the dietitians and reported to be excellent. All patients were ingesting gluten in their diet prior to starting the study. At 4-weeks, a statistically significant decrease in stool frequency of subjects on GFD compared to subjects on GCD was seen. This effect was more pronounced in subjects who were HLA-DQ2 or 8 positive. There was no significant dietary effect on daily stool form, ease of passage or gastric emptying. The GCD was associated with higher small bowel permeability and lactulose:mannitol ratio. Small bowel permeability was greater in HLA-DQ2/8–positive than negative patients. No significant differences in colonic permeability were observed. The author concludes that this study provides mechanistic explanations for the observation that gluten withdrawal may improve patient symptoms in IBS. The data also partially explains that the biological effects of gluten were associated with HLA-DQ2 or 8 genotype. The relationship of dietary factors, innate and adaptive immune responses and mucosal interactions in IBS-D deserve further study. Further clinical studies evaluating the effects of gluten withdrawal in patients with IBS-D are needed.