DrugLib.com — Drug Information Portal

Rx drug information, pharmaceutical research, clinical trials, news, and more



Randomised clinical trial: vancomycin or metronidazole in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis - a pilot study.

Author(s): Tabibian JH(1), Weeding E, Jorgensen RA, Petz JL, Keach JC, Talwalkar JA, Lindor KD.

Affiliation(s): Author information: (1)Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.

Publication date & source: 2013, Aliment Pharmacol Ther. , 37(6):604-12

BACKGROUND: Emerging data suggest that oral antibiotics may have therapeutic effects in primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), but published studies are limited. AIMS: To investigate the safety and efficacy of oral vancomycin and metronidazole in patients with PSC. METHODS: Thirty-five patients with PSC were randomised in a double-blind manner into four groups: vancomycin 125 mg or 250 mg four times/day, or metronidazole 250 mg or 500 mg three times/day for 12 weeks. The primary endpoint was decrease in alkaline phosphatase (ALK) at 12 weeks. Secondary end points included serum bilirubin and Mayo PSC risk score; pruritus; and adverse effects (AEs). Nonparametric tests were used for analysis. RESULTS: The primary endpoint was reached in the low-dose (-43% change in ALK, P = 0.03) and high-dose (-40%, P = 0.02) vancomycin groups, with two patients in the former experiencing ALK normalisation. Bilirubin decreased significantly in the low-dose metronidazole group (-20%, P = 0.03) and trended towards significance in the low-dose vancomycin group (-33%, P = 0.06). Mayo PSC risk score decreased significantly in the low-dose vancomycin (-0.55, P = 0.02) and low-dose metronidazole group (-0.16, P = 0.03). Pruritus decreased significantly in the high-dose metronidazole group (-3.4, P = 0.03). AEs led to medication discontinuation in six patients, four of whom were receiving metronidazole. CONCLUSIONS: Both vancomycin and metronidazole demonstrated efficacy; however, only patients in the vancomycin groups reached the primary endpoint, and with less adverse effects. Larger, longer-term studies are needed to further examine the safety and efficacy of antibiotics as a potential treatment for patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis (clinicaltrials.gov NCT01085760).

Page last updated: 2014-11-30

-- advertisement -- The American Red Cross
 
Home | About Us | Contact Us | Site usage policy | Privacy policy

All Rights reserved - Copyright DrugLib.com, 2006-2017