Celiac Disease
Conditions
Keywords
Celiac disease, Coeliac disease, treatment, AN-PEP, prolyl endoprotease, gluten
Brief summary
Oral supplementation with enzymes that can cut gluten has been suggested as a potential treatment modality for coeliac disease. In the present study the investigators wish to determine if co-administration of such an enzyme, a prolyl endoprotease derived from the food grade organism Aspergillis niger (AN-PEP), is capable of detoxifying 8 grams of gluten in a commercial food product.
Detailed description
The objective of the study is to determine whether AN-PEP enzyme is effective in mitigating the effects of 8 g wheat protein ingestion in patients with celiac disease. Fourteen patients with coeliac disease, 18-70 years old are recruited. During the first period, patients consume once daily a gluten-containing food product with the AN-PEP enzyme for 2 weeks. After a 2-week washout period (second period), patients enter the third period of this study, and are randomized to one of two groups and consume the same gluten-containing food product with AN-PEP or placebo. Period 1: Patients are given a food product containing 8 g of wheat protein, to which AN-PEP is added, once daily for 14 d. Period 2: Wash-out period of 14 d. During this period, patients will consume a gluten-free diet. Period 3: Patients who are negative for coeliac disease symptoms during the 1st period will be randomized across two groups. Both groups receive a food product containing 8 g of wheat protein once daily for 14 d. One group receives additional AN-PEP with the gluten meal whereas the other group receives the placebo. Patients will visit the outpatient clinic five times; one visit before the start of the study, a visit during and at the end of the first period, and a visit during and at the end of the third period. During three of the visits, spike-biopsies are taken from the duodenum by oesophago-gastro-duodenoscopy. Blood samples are taken during all of the five visits. Patients will also fill in a quality of life questionnaire at the start and the end of the first and third period.
Interventions
160 PPU daily for 2 weeks
Placebo
Sponsors
Study design
Eligibility
Inclusion criteria
* Confirmed diagnosis of coeliac disease (Marsh III B/C) ; that means crypt hyperplasia and subtotal or total villous atrophy, while using a normal diet followed by normalisation and clinical improvement on a gluten-free diet; * Detectable coeliac disease specific antibodies (EMA, tTGA) at time of diagnosis. * A strict gluten free diet for at least 1 year and normalised villous architecture (Marsh 0/I); * Male and female, 18-70 years old; * No detectable anti-endomysium and low anti-tissue transglutaminase (\< 4 U/ml) prior to the start of the study; * Patient is willing to undergo all protocol related assessments and visits (including up to 3 separate oesophago-gastro-duodenoscopies with multiple biopsies taken each time from the descending duodenum); * Patient has read the information provided on the study and given written consent; * Female participants at fertile age must use adequate contraception.
Exclusion criteria
* Use of any immunoregulatory drug within the last 6 months; * Use of any anticoagulant drug; * Clinically suspected bleeding tendency; * Pregnancy or breast feeding; * Presence of any concurrent active infection; * IgA deficiency.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Histopathological changes according to the Modified Marsh criteria | One week before start, and 2 and 6 weeks after start |
| The presence of coeliac disease specific antibodies (EMA, tTGA, gliadin) | One week before start, and 2 and 6 weeks after start |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Presence and activity of gluten reactive Tcells isolated from biopsies and serum | One week before start, and 2 and 6 weeks after start |
| Immunophenotype of lymphocytes isolated from biopsies | One week before start, and 2 and 6 weeks after start |
| Clinical symptoms after gluten intake with and without AN-PEP | One week before start, and 2 and 6 weeks after start |
Countries
Netherlands