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Hepatic EncephalopathyPhase 4PEGHENCT04436601

Polyethylene Glycol Versus Lactulose on Hepatic Encephalopathy in Patients With Cirrhosis;(PEGHE Trial)

A Phase 4 study testing Polyethylene Glycols and Lactulose in people with Hepatic Encephalopathy, run by Aga Khan University at 1 site in Pakistan.

Unknown status

Status not confirmed. The sponsor has not verified this record for over two years, so it may be out of date.

Official record
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Trial summary

Hepatic Encephaopathy is a common complication occurring in patients with Liver cirrhosis. Patients usually develop mild confusion, sleep disturbance or obtundation. It occurs due to accumulation of excess ammonia in the brain, as the liver is unable to metabolize the ammonia. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 80 years
Conditions the study is for
Hepatic Encephalopathy
What is being tested?
Polyethylene Glycols and Lactulose
Type of treatment
Pill or oral medicine
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
102 participants
Where
1 sitePakistan
Study dates
9 Mar 2020to 30 Dec 2023
Phase
Phase 4
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 80 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • All patients of 18-80 years admitted to Aga Khan University Hospital
  • With Chronic liver disease: Chronic liver disease will be defined based on ultra-sonographic evidence of chronic liver disease including shrunken liver, dilated portal vein, splenomegaly.
  • With Hepatic encephalopathy; Hepatic encephalopathy will be defined as the onset of disorientation or asterixis according to The International Society for Hepatic Encephalopathy and Nitrogen Metabolism consensus and will be assessed using HESA score
  • Presence of first degree relative for consent (Next of kin)

Who cannot join

  • Allergy to PEG
  • Bowel obstruction or perforation diagnosed clinically or on Xray
  • Major psychiatric illness; on benzodiazepines
  • Treated with locally acting antibiotics (rifaximin) in the previous 7 days;
  • Active gastrointestinal tract bleeding
  • Acute Liver failure:defined as coagulopathy (international normalized ratio >1.5) with any degree of AMS in the absence of underlying chronic liver disease (CLD)
  • Female patients if pregnant or lactating

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Asra tus Saleha Siddiqui contact

+923323262516

asra.siddiqui@aku.edu

Pakistan1 site, 1 recruiting
  • Aga Khan University

    Karachi, Sindh, 75290

    Om Parkash, +923333509749, om.parkash@aku.edu

    Recruiting

Other trials in Pakistan

About this study

Official title: Effect of Polyethylene Glycol Versus Lactulose on Hepatic Encephalopathy in Patients With Liver Cirrhosis; a Randomized Clinical Trial (PEGHE Trial)

Hepatic Encephaopathy is a common complication occurring in patients with Liver cirrhosis. Patients usually develop mild confusion, sleep disturbance or obtundation. It occurs due to accumulation of excess ammonia in the brain, as the liver is unable to metabolize the ammonia. The common gold standard treatment recommended for patients with Hepatic Encephalopathy is Lactulose syrup. This is a non absorbable sugar, often combined with an antibiotic called Rifaxamine to treat this condition.

Polyethylene glycol is in a class of medications called osmotic laxatives which works by causing water to be retained with the stool. PEG and lactulose, when used together, result in faster resolution of symptoms suggesting that PEG may be superior to standard lactulose therapy in these patients.

Read more

Non-absorbable sugars like lactulose are associated with non-serious (mainly gastrointestinal) adverse events like diarrhea and bloating Hence, due to the side effect profile, newer drugs continue to be tested for treatment of Hepatic Encephalopathy.

The aim of this research project is to compare the effect of PEG versus lactulose for treatment of HE in patients with liver cirrhosis. The investigators want to compare the resolution of HE as the main outcome. In addition, they will compare length of stay, non-serious (mainly gastrointestinal) adverse events, and 3 months outcome. The investigators hypothesize that rapid purgation of the gut using PEG may resolve HE more effectively than lactulose.

Read the detailed description

Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a common neuropsychiatric complication of liver cirrhosis manifested by mild confusion, sleep disturbance or obtundation. Lactulose treatment has long been the standard of care, which presumably acidifies stool and eradicates toxic metabolites. However a third of these patients with hepatic encephalopathy do not respond to this standard treatment and have refractory HE. Hence newer drugs with effective improvement in HE and better side effect profile are still being tested.

Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is in a class of medications called osmotic laxatives which works by causing water to be retained with the stool. PEG and lactulose, when used together, result in rapid overt HE resolution within 24 hours compared to the standard-of-care lactulose, suggesting that PEG may be superior to standard lactulose therapy in patients with cirrhosis hospitalized for acute HE.

Rationale Non-absorbable disaccharides like lactulose are associated with non-serious (mainly gastrointestinal) adverse events like diarrhea and bloating, hence, due to the side effect profile, newer drugs continue to be tested for treatment of HE.

Hypothesis and Aim The aim of this research project is to compare the effect of PEG with Lactulose for treatment of Hepatic Encephalopathy in patients with liver cirrhosis. The investigators want to compare the resolution of HE as the main outcome. In addition, they would compare length of stay, non-serious (mainly gastrointestinal) adverse events, and 3 months outcome. The investigators hypothesize that rapid purgation of the gut using PEG may resolve HE more effectively than lactulose.

These aims are original in that the investigators aim to test this hypothesis on a different patient population (South Asian), where the predominant cause of cirrhosis is due to viral hepatitis C and B. In addition,the investigators will also look at the effect of PEG v lactulose on 3 months outcome in this study.

Significance The significance of this proposal is that if the investigators can prove the hypothesis, it will add to the currently limited evidence on use of PEG in treatment of HE in the world. PEG might have a better side effect profile when compared to lactulose. Based on current market pricing of lactulose, if PEG is found to have favorable outcome then it might be more cost effective as well. Hence PEG might be a useful alternative in 30% of those who don't respond to lactulose, if PEG shows favorable outcome.

Objective Primary: To determine the effect of PEG versus Lactulose on resolution of HE in patients with liver cirrhosis during inpatient stay at 24 hours, 48 hours and 72 hours .

Secondary: To determine the effect of Lactulose versus PEG on length of stay, and 3 months outcome in patients with liver cirrhosis.

Being tested
Polyethylene Glycols, Lactulose
Medical subject headings
Hepatic Encephalopathy

What participants receive

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

  • Polyethylene GlycolsDrug

    Polyethylene glycol will be administered to half of the study patients, and their response recorded and compared with that of the Lactulose arm.

  • LactuloseDrug

    Lactulose (standard of care) will be administered to half of the study patients and their response recorded.

Study groups in NCT04436601
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
LactuloseActive comparator90 ml of Lactulose dissolved in 750 ml of water administered orally by mouth or nasogastric tube (three doses within 24 hrs) continued up to 72 hours or until patient discharge, whichever comes first.
Receives: Drug: Lactulose
PEG: Polyethylene GlycolExperimentalThree or four sachet of Movicol(PEG) will be dissolved in 750 ml of water and will be given over 24 hrs as 3 doses orally by mouth or Nasogastric tube and will continue up to 72 hours or until patient discharge, whichever comes first
Receives: Drug: Polyethylene Glycols

What is being measured

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

  1. Resolution of Hepatic Encephalopathy

    Calculated using Hepatic Encephalopathy scoring Algorithm (HESA). Resolution is defined as reduction of at least 1 grade of HESA score after 24 hours, 48 hours and if applicable 72 hours of therapy during hospital stay

    Measured: Change in HESA score at 24 hours, 48 hours and if applicable, 72 hours of drug administration

Secondary outcomes (2)
  1. Mean Length of inpatient stay in hours

    Duration of hospital stay will be recorded in hours

    Measured: at time of patient discharge, an average of 72 hours

  2. 3 months outcome (readmission with Hepatic Encephalopathy)

    Patient will be asked at 3 month follow up if there was any other readmission anywhere with Hepatic Encephalopathy

    Measured: The three month outcome will be assessed at clinic follow-up at 3 month or by phone call if patient is lost to follow up

Timeline

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

  1. First posted18 Jun 2020
  2. Study start9 Mar 2020
  3. Primary completion30 Dec 2023 (estimated)
  4. Study completion30 Dec 2023 (estimated)

Resources

More details

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

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase 4
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Quadruple blind
Who is masked
Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
102 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT04436601
Sponsor's protocol ID
191002MED
Acronym
PEGHE
Status last verified
Apr 2023
First submitted
23 May 2020
Last updated
19 Apr 2023
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No: Combined data, relevant to the study publication will be made available

Publications

  • Poordad FF. Review article: the burden of hepatic encephalopathy. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2007 Feb;25 Suppl 1:3-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1746-6342.2006.03215.x.

    PubMed 17295846
  • Rahimi RS, Rockey DC. Novel Ammonia-Lowering Agents for Hepatic Encephalopathy. Clin Liver Dis. 2015 Aug;19(3):539-49. doi: 10.1016/j.cld.2015.04.008. Epub 2015 May 30.

    PubMed 26195207
  • Elkington SG, Floch MH, Conn HO. Lactulose in the treatment of chronic portal-systemic encephalopathy. A double-blind clinical trial. N Engl J Med. 1969 Aug 21;281(8):408-12. doi: 10.1056/NEJM196908212810803. No abstract available.

    PubMed 4894464
  • Sharma P, Sharma BC, Sarin SK. Predictors of nonresponse to lactulose in patients with cirrhosis and hepatic encephalopathy. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2010 May;22(5):526-31. doi: 10.1097/MEG.0b013e3283341b7d.

    PubMed 20009938
  • Tapper EB, Jiang ZG, Patwardhan VR. Refining the ammonia hypothesis: a physiology-driven approach to the treatment of hepatic encephalopathy. Mayo Clin Proc. 2015 May;90(5):646-58. doi: 10.1016/j.mayocp.2015.03.003. Epub 2015 Apr 9.

    PubMed 25865476
  • Romero-Gomez M, Jover M, Del Campo JA, Royo JL, Hoyas E, Galan JJ, Montoliu C, Baccaro E, Guevara M, Cordoba J, Soriano G, Navarro JM, Martinez-Sierra C, Grande L, Galindo A, Mira E, Manes S, Ruiz A. Variations in the promoter region of the glutaminase gene and the development of hepatic encephalopathy in patients with cirrhosis: a cohort study. Ann Intern Med. 2010 Sep 7;153(5):281-8. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-153-5-201009070-00002.

    PubMed 20820037
  • Jain L, Sharma BC, Sharma P, Srivastava S, Agrawal A, Sarin SK. Serum endotoxin and inflammatory mediators in patients with cirrhosis and hepatic encephalopathy. Dig Liver Dis. 2012 Dec;44(12):1027-31. doi: 10.1016/j.dld.2012.07.002. Epub 2012 Aug 9.

    PubMed 22883217
  • Wijdicks EF. Hepatic Encephalopathy. N Engl J Med. 2016 Oct 27;375(17):1660-1670. doi: 10.1056/NEJMra1600561. No abstract available.

    PubMed 27783916
  • Zuberi BF, Alvi H, Zuberi FF, Rasheed T, Nawaz Z, Fatima-Tuz-Zohra. Frequency of minimal hepatic encepalopathy in illeterate patients with compensated cirrhosis. Pak J Med Sci. 2016 May-Jun;32(3):595-8. doi: 10.12669/pjms.323.9655.

    PubMed 27375696
  • Gerber T, Schomerus H. Hepatic encephalopathy in liver cirrhosis: pathogenesis, diagnosis and management. Drugs. 2000 Dec;60(6):1353-70. doi: 10.2165/00003495-200060060-00008.

    PubMed 11152016
  • Gluud LL, Vilstrup H, Morgan MY. Non-absorbable disaccharides versus placebo/no intervention and lactulose versus lactitol for the prevention and treatment of hepatic encephalopathy in people with cirrhosis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016 May 6;2016(5):CD003044. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD003044.pub4.

    PubMed 27153247
  • Williams R, Bass N. Rifaximin, a nonabsorbed oral antibiotic, in the treatment of hepatic encephalopathy: antimicrobial activity, efficacy, and safety. Rev Gastroenterol Disord. 2005;5 Suppl 1:S10-8.

    PubMed 15976747
  • Kimer N, Krag A, Moller S, Bendtsen F, Gluud LL. Systematic review with meta-analysis: the effects of rifaximin in hepatic encephalopathy. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2014 Jul;40(2):123-32. doi: 10.1111/apt.12803. Epub 2014 May 21.

    PubMed 24849268
  • Rahimi RS, Singal AG, Cuthbert JA, Rockey DC. Lactulose vs polyethylene glycol 3350--electrolyte solution for treatment of overt hepatic encephalopathy: the HELP randomized clinical trial. JAMA Intern Med. 2014 Nov;174(11):1727-33. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2014.4746.

    PubMed 25243839
  • Rockey DC, Vierling JM, Mantry P, Ghabril M, Brown RS Jr, Alexeeva O, Zupanets IA, Grinevich V, Baranovsky A, Dudar L, Fadieienko G, Kharchenko N, Klaryts'ka I, Morozov V, Grewal P, McCashland T, Reddy KG, Reddy KR, Syplyviy V, Bass NM, Dickinson K, Norris C, Coakley D, Mokhtarani M, Scharschmidt BF; HALT-HE Study Group. Randomized, double-blind, controlled study of glycerol phenylbutyrate in hepatic encephalopathy. Hepatology. 2014 Mar;59(3):1073-83. doi: 10.1002/hep.26611.

    PubMed 23847109

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 4 study testing Polyethylene Glycols and Lactulose in people with Hepatic Encephalopathy, run by Aga Khan University at 1 site in Pakistan.

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 4 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: status not confirmed, as of the sponsor's last update on 19 Apr 2023. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Pakistan. 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.

What does this phase mean?

Phase 4 studies take place after a treatment is approved, to learn more about its long-term benefits and risks in everyday use.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

Are results available for this study?

Results are not available in the source record.

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

Contact Om Parkash (+923333509749, om.parkash@aku.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Resolution of Hepatic Encephalopathy (time frame: Change in HESA score at 24 hours, 48 hours and if applicable, 72 hours of drug administration). 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 NCT04436601, which also lists 24 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 19 Apr 2023.

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