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Non-Celiac Wheat SensitivityNCT02248545

Autoimmune Diseases And Serum Anti-Nuclear Antibodies Positivity In Non-Celiac Wheat Sensitivity Patients

An observational study of Non-Celiac Wheat Sensitivity, run by University of Palermo at 3 sites in Italy.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

Celiac disease (CD) is an immune-based reaction to dietary gluten (storage protein for wheat, barley, and rye) that primarily affects the small intestine in genetically predisposed patients and resolves with exclusion of gluten from the diet. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 70 years
Conditions the study is for
Non-Celiac Wheat Sensitivity
How many people
90 participants
Where
3 sitesItaly
Study dates
Jul 2011to Jun 2014
Phase
Observational
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 70 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Study population: The study included consecutive adult patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)-like clinical presentation, according to Rome II criteria, and a definitive diagnosis of NCWS, referred at the Internal Medicine Department of the University Hospital of Palermo, Italy, and at the Internal Medicine Department of the Hospital of Sciacca, Agrigento, Italy, between July 2011 and July 2013.

Who may be able to join

  • To diagnose NCWS the recently proposed criteria were adopted. All the patients met the following criteria
  • negative serum anti-transglutaminase (anti-tTG) and anti-endomysium (EmA) IgA and IgG antibodies
  • absence of intestinal villous atrophy
  • negative IgE-mediated immune-allergy tests to wheat (skin prick tests and/or serum specific IgE detection)
  • resolution of the IBS symptoms on standard elimination diet, excluding wheat, cow's milk, egg, tomato, chocolate, and other self-reported food(s) causing symptoms
  • symptom reappearance on double-blind placebo-controlled (DBPC) wheat challenge. As we previously described in other studies, DBPC cow's milk protein challenge and other "open" food challenges were performed too.
Show all 10Show fewer
  • Additional inclusion criteria were:
  • age >18 years
  • follow-up duration longer than six months after the initial diagnosis
  • at least two outpatient visits during the follow-up period.

Who cannot join

  • positive EmA in the culture medium of the duodenal biopsies, also in the case of normal villi/crypts ratio in the duodenal mucosa
  • self-exclusion of wheat from the diet and refusal to reintroduce it, before entering the study
  • other "organic" gastrointestinal disorders
  • nervous system disease and/or major psychiatric disorder
  • physical impairment limiting physical activity
  • menopause
  • steroid and sex steroid therapy, hormone replacement therapy or ovariectomy.

Trial locations and contacts

3 sites in 1 country.

Italy3 sites
  • Gastroenterology Unit of the "Civico" Hospital of Palermo

    Palermo, Palermo, 90100

  • Internal Medicine Department of the University Hospital of Palermo

    Palermo, Palermo, 90127

  • Internal Medicine Department of the Hospital of Sciacca (Agrigento)

    Sciacca, Agrigento, 92019

Other trials in Italy

About this study

Celiac disease (CD) is an immune-based reaction to dietary gluten (storage protein for wheat, barley, and rye) that primarily affects the small intestine in genetically predisposed patients and resolves with exclusion of gluten from the diet. Patients with CD show circulating autoantibodies (anti-transglutaminase, anti-tTG) and suffer from the destruction of a specific tissue cell type (the enterocytes) by CD8+ T cells. Furthermore, other autoimmune diseases have been reported in association to CD in 20-30% of the cases. In the last few year, a new clinical entity emerged, which seems include patients who consider themselves to be suffering from problems caused by wheat and/or gluten ingestion, even though they do not have CD or wheat allergy. This clinical condition has been named "Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity" (6), but, in a recent paper, the investigators suggested the term "Non-Celiac Wheat Sensitivity" (NCWS), since, to date, it is not known what component of wheat really causes the symptoms. The doubt areas about the NCWS regard also its pathogenesis as, despite some papers evidenced an intestinal immunologic activation, others excluded it. To explore the presence of autoimmunity in NCWS, the investigators evaluated: a) the frequency of autoimmune diseases and b) the frequency of serum anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA) positivity in newly diagnosed NCWS, compared to CD patients.

Read the detailed description

Celiac disease (CD) is an immune-based reaction to dietary gluten (storage protein for wheat, barley, and rye) that primarily affects the small intestine in genetically predisposed patients and resolves with exclusion of gluten from the diet. Although CD is not surely placed among the autoimmune diseases, patients with CD show circulating autoantibodies (anti-transglutaminase, anti-tTG) and suffer from the destruction of a specific tissue cell type (the enterocytes) by CD8+ T cells. Furthermore, other autoimmune diseases have been reported in association to CD in 20-30% of the cases. In the last few year, a new clinical entity emerged, which seems include patients who consider themselves to be suffering from problems caused by wheat and/or gluten ingestion, even though they do not have CD or wheat allergy. This clinical condition has been named "Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity" (6), but, in a recent paper, the investigators suggested the term "Non-Celiac Wheat Sensitivity" (NCWS), since, to date, it is not known what component of wheat really causes the symptoms. The doubt areas about the NCWS regard also its pathogenesis as, despite some papers evidenced an intestinal immunologic activation, others linked NCWS to the dietary FODMAPs (Fermentable Oligo-di and Mono-saccharides, And Polyols) load, thus excluding an immunologic involvement in the NCWS. To explore the presence of autoimmunity in NCWS, in the present study the investigators evaluated: a) the frequency of autoimmune diseases and b) the frequency of serum anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA) positivity in newly diagnosed NCWS and CD patients.

Keywords
Non-Celiac Wheat Sensitivity, Autoimmune diseases, Anti-nuclear antibodies, Celiac disease, Irritable bowel syndrome
Medical subject headings
Autoimmune Diseases, Celiac Disease, Irritable Bowel Syndrome

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

Study groups in NCT02248545
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Non-celiac Wheat Sensitivity PatientsConsecutive adult patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)-like clinical presentation, according to Rome II criteria, and a definitive diagnosis of NCWS.
Celiac Disease PatientsCeliac disease adult patients, sex- and age-matched, diagnosed according to standard criteria, during the same study period, chosen at random and enrolled as first control group.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome PatientsIrritable Bowel Syndrome adult patients, sex- and age-matched, diagnosed according to Rome II criteria, and unrelated to NCWS or other food "intolerance", during the same study period, chosen at random and enrolled as second control group.

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Organ- and non-organ specific autoantibodies

    We evaluated, by ELISA and Immunofluorescence, organ- and non-organ specific autoantibodies, i.e. Anti-Nuclear Antibodies (ANA) IgG, anti double-strand (anti-ds) DNA IgG Antibodies, Anti-Mitochondrial Antibodies (AMA), Liver Kidney Microsome (LKM) IgG Antibodies, Anti-Smooth Muscle Antibodies (ASMA) IgG, anti-Sjogren's Syndrome antigen A (anti-SSA) IgG Antibodies, anti-Sjogren's Syndrome antigen B (anti-SSB) IgG Antibodies, anti-Smith (anti-Sm) IgG Antibodies, anti-ThyroPerOxidase (anti-TPO) IgG Antibodies, anti-ThyroGlobulin (anti-TG) IgG Antibodies, anti-Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase (anti-GAD) IgG Antobodies, and Islet Cell Antibodies (ICA) IgG.

    Measured: At first visit

Secondary outcomes (1)
  1. Questionnaire for autoimmunity.

    The presence of autoimmune disorders was evaluated by a structured questionnaire, with the assistance of ad hoc-trained personnel, and review of patient' clinical records. The presence of one of the following diseases was looked for in all subjects: connective tissue diseases, autoimmune endocrinological diseases, autoimmune hepatitis, primary biliary cirrhosis, epilepsy with cerebral calcification, unexplained cerebellar ataxia, alopecia, psoriasis, dermatitis herpetiform, atrophic autoimmune gastritis, and immune anemia, neutropenia, or thrombocytopenia. The hospital records of all patients diagnosed for an autoimmune disorder were thoroughly examined to verify whether the recognized diagnostic criteria for each disorder had been fulfilled, together with age at diagnosis of the diseases and treatment received.

    Measured: At first visit

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted25 Sep 2014 (estimated)
  2. Study startJul 2011
  3. Primary completionJul 2013
  4. Study completionJun 2014

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Observational
Observational model
Case-control
Time perspective
Retrospective
Enrolment
90 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT02248545
Sponsor's protocol ID
ACPM06
Status last verified
Sep 2014
First submitted
20 Sep 2014
Last updated
25 Sep 2014
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No

Publications

  • Rubio-Tapia A, Hill ID, Kelly CP, Calderwood AH, Murray JA; American College of Gastroenterology. ACG clinical guidelines: diagnosis and management of celiac disease. Am J Gastroenterol. 2013 May;108(5):656-76; quiz 677. doi: 10.1038/ajg.2013.79. Epub 2013 Apr 23.

    PubMed 23609613
  • Sollid LM, Jabri B. Triggers and drivers of autoimmunity: lessons from coeliac disease. Nat Rev Immunol. 2013 Apr;13(4):294-302. doi: 10.1038/nri3407. Epub 2013 Mar 15.

    PubMed 23493116
  • Sategna Guidetti C, Solerio E, Scaglione N, Aimo G, Mengozzi G. Duration of gluten exposure in adult coeliac disease does not correlate with the risk for autoimmune disorders. Gut. 2001 Oct;49(4):502-5. doi: 10.1136/gut.49.4.502.

    PubMed 11559646
  • Biagi F, Pezzimenti D, Campanella J, Corazza GR. Gluten exposure and risk of autoimmune disorders. Gut. 2002 Jul;51(1):140-1. doi: 10.1136/gut.51.1.140-a. No abstract available.

    PubMed 12077109
  • Verdu EF, Armstrong D, Murray JA. Between celiac disease and irritable bowel syndrome: the "no man's land" of gluten sensitivity. Am J Gastroenterol. 2009 Jun;104(6):1587-94. doi: 10.1038/ajg.2009.188.

    PubMed 19455131
  • Catassi C, Bai JC, Bonaz B, Bouma G, Calabro A, Carroccio A, Castillejo G, Ciacci C, Cristofori F, Dolinsek J, Francavilla R, Elli L, Green P, Holtmeier W, Koehler P, Koletzko S, Meinhold C, Sanders D, Schumann M, Schuppan D, Ullrich R, Vecsei A, Volta U, Zevallos V, Sapone A, Fasano A. Non-Celiac Gluten sensitivity: the new frontier of gluten related disorders. Nutrients. 2013 Sep 26;5(10):3839-53. doi: 10.3390/nu5103839.

    PubMed 24077239
  • Carroccio A, Rini G, Mansueto P. Non-celiac wheat sensitivity is a more appropriate label than non-celiac gluten sensitivity. Gastroenterology. 2014 Jan;146(1):320-1. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2013.08.061. Epub 2013 Nov 22. No abstract available.

    PubMed 24275240
  • Mansueto P, Soresi M, Candore G, Garlisi C, Fayer F, Gambino CM, La Blasca F, Seidita A, D'Alcamo A, Lo Sasso B, Florena AM, Geraci G, Caio G, Volta U, De Giorgio R, Ciaccio M, Carroccio A. Autoimmunity Features in Patients With Non-Celiac Wheat Sensitivity. Am J Gastroenterol. 2021 May 1;116(5):1015-1023. doi: 10.14309/ajg.0000000000000919.

    PubMed 33009065

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

An observational study of Non-Celiac Wheat Sensitivity, run by University of Palermo at 3 sites in Italy.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 10 inclusion and 7 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 25 Sep 2014. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 3 sites in Italy. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Organ- and non-organ specific autoantibodies (time frame: At first visit). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT02248545, which also lists 8 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 25 Sep 2014.

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